Eateries apply to open until 2am
Slough: Council considers bids from neighbouring venues
Cafes and takeaways in Farnham Road were at loggerheads with Slough Borough Council this week over extending their opening hours.
Members of the council’s planning committee discussed three separate applications from businesses based on the busy row of eateries.
Peri-Peri Chicken Original, serving up food from 246 Farnham Road, asked the council to legally extend its opening hours until
2am daily.
The business secured a licence to trade during these hours 10 years ago but under planning laws, it is supposed to shut at 11pm Monday to Saturday.
The council’s planning department said legally extending their trading hours could exacerbate anti-social behaviour and late-night noise in the area.
Councillor Zaffar Ajaib (Lab, Langley St Mary’s) told the meeting: “We’ve got
a slogan in the town that we’re open for business but what we’re trying to do here is we’re going round trying to close the businesses.
“In this current climate we want the businesses to thrive, not to go round trying to pick point and close things down.”
Councillors questioned how many anti-social behaviour complaints had been against the venue but planning officer Will Doherty said he had no specific numbers available.
Following a vote by councillors, it was agreed in principle the venue will be allowed to trade until 2am each day.
A further two applications from Grill Street and tea room Chaiiwala, about 50 yards further down the road, were knocked back in their bids to extend their opening hours.
The venues must shut at 11pm and 11.30pm respectively, but councillors raised concerns over the impact late-night noise could have on nearby residents.
Councillor Pavitar Mann (Lab, Britwell and Northborough) said: “I absolutely accept that the businesses themselves do not have control over what takes place outside their business operation but we as the council do.”
She said the Grill Street application differed from the Peri-Peri Chicken Original application because it had more residential properties nearby which could be affected by late-night noise.
“I am very concerned about this application setting a precedent in turning Farnham Road solely into a late-night venue,” Cllr Mann added.