Pizza restaurant go-ahead

TILEHURST will get a new pizza takeaway restaurant after planning permission was granted, despite concerns from neighbours.

Vesuvio Pizzeria is to open in the former Coral Betting Shop on Norcot Road.

Its owners had submitted a licensing application to Reading Borough Council to sell food and drink indoors and outdoors until 2am, and sell alcohol from 11am to 11.30pm, seven days a week.

Residents raised potential noise disturbance, anti-social behaviour and an intensification of traffic in the area.

Fiona Conroy said: “The risk of possible damage, violence, anti-social behaviour is increased by introducing a considerable number of people, late at night and having been in an environment where alcohol is involved, is not an acceptable risk for existing residents.

“Generally, any activity involving increased numbers of people, vehicles, and alcohol after 11.30pm is not appropriate for a residential area.”

Fellow neighbours Jenny Trist and Claire Foxon argued the pizzeria should close at 11pm, in line with the closure of nearby pub The Victoria, which calls time at 11pm Sunday to Thursday and midnight on Fridays and Saturdays.

An objection was also lodged by a council planning officer, who asked whether Vesuvio had permission to convert the shop.

The council gave consent under application reference 200766, although the planning status of the building is not entirely certain.

The licensing applications committee meeting on Thursday, March 2, approved the food and drink request with no alterations, with the decision being made by councillors Paul Woodward (Labour, Church), Glenn Dennis (Labour, Kentwood) and Liam Challenger (Labour, Katesgrove).

Cllr Dennis stated the firm would use the rear of the building.

“There will be no impact on residents at the front, as all deliveries will be conducted from the back,” he said. “We saw no reason why they couldn’t open.”

He added that the business was in touch with the council’s planning department to resolve any lingering issues.