Green councillors who objected to the extension of licencing hours at the Kentucky Fried Chicken (KFC) at the Berkeley Centre on Ecclesall Road achieved a significant concession at the licensing sub-committee meeting on Tuesday 17th March.
KFC put in a request to extend their hours of serving from 11pm to 4am seven days a week all year round. The Broomhill and Sharrow Vale Ward Green councillors objected to this extension of hours of operation into the small hours. They objected on the grounds of impact on public health, prevention of crime and disorder and for prevention of public nuisance.
Broomhill and Sharrow Vale Councillor Brian Holmshaw, who was at the meeting, said
“Unfortunately this application was passed. We’d had a number of representations from residents in the area concerned at the potential for noise, litter and cooking smells spreading to houses nearby, and to the flats above the Berkeley Centre.
“Our pressure on KFC through this objection has meant that they will now be open as an App only access and collection point from the hours of 2-4am. This will help reduce any gathering in the Berkeley Centre car park in the early hours of the morning. Personally I believe it should have been refused outright.
“It’s a shame that this has been allowed. There have been too many late night and early morning refreshment and drinks license hour changes on Ecclesall Road recently. It is changing the nature of the road as many residents and businesses will confirm. Regular planning hours with a curfew of 11.30pm have been set for many years, so this decision flies in the face of that. Noise, litter, and taxi doors slamming are making it worse for people on nearby residential roads trying to have a good night’s sleep.”
Cllr Holmshaw has been working with independent traders on the road to establish a traders association that will help revive the status of the road and make it more attractive to live close to and to shop on.
