The Food Junction's plans to stay open until 5am in Gloucester have been refused by the council
PLANS for a city centre takeaway to stay open until 5am have been rejected.
The Food Junction, in Southgate Street, applied to Gloucester City Council to extend its opening hours on a Friday and Saturday to 5am, four hours later than current restrictions allow.
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REFUSED: The Food Junction.
They also wanted to open until 3am on Sundays and until 2am Monday to Thursday.
Gloucestershire Constabulary, Gloucester City Council Environmental Protection and the nearby New County Hotel all objected to the proposals.
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At a licensing sub-committee meeting on Wednesday, the plans were thrown out.
Councillor Chris Witts (LD, Elmbridge) chaired the meeting. Afterwards he said: "There was no way we were going to allow them to stay open until 5am, that was dismissed outright.
"We listened to all sides and even deliberated for an hour.
"We eventually decided to extend their opening hours on a Friday and Saturday from 1am to 2am, on Sunday they will close at 1am, and Monday to Friday they will close at midnight."
Barry Leach of the Gloucester City Centre Community Partnership, has criticised the move.
He said: "Whether it is 5am or 2am, it doesn't matter. This sets a dangerous precedent.
"There are takeaways lower down on all the Gate streets that open late, and that is fine.
"But having them so close to the Cross sets a dangerous precedent, especially if you are trying to create a cafe culture in Gloucester city centre.
"We have got no problem with the business itself, just the late opening hours."
The owner of Food Junction could not be reached for a comment.
Comments
by Lecorche
Friday, February 15 2013, 10:15AM
“It could be that the Council is breaking European Laws on trading.
1: If the place has a floor area of less than 280 square metres then it's very likely that it can choose it's own hours of opening under EU legislation.
2 That same EU legislation forbids the big boys agreeing to gang up against the little trader. It's an Anti-Trust thing.
Extract: "Councillor Chris Witts (LD, Elmbridge) chaired the meeting. Afterwards he said: "There was no way we were going to allow them to stay open until 5am, that was dismissed outright.".
On what grounds,Chris? Because you don't like it?
We're well into the second decade of the 21st. Century and some traders have jumped in to give us 24 hour service.
Yet if GCC has it's way then Gloucester will be known as The City that Never Leaps.”