BOUNCERS will have to be stationed outside a Wallingford fried chicken takeaway when it stays open until 1.30am.

Councillors have allowed USA Chicken Takeaway, St Martin’s Street to extend its hours from 11pm at present on Friday and Saturday nights.

But they said it must employ two door staff for the extra hours, install CCTV, and attempt to prevent its customers littering surrounding streets.

It was passed by the three-member South Oxfordshire District Council (SODC) licensing committee on Monday. This is the first time a doorstaff condition has been put on a takeaway in the town.

Wallingford Town Council told SODC in a letter the extra hours were “unreasonable” to neighbours. It said: “The customers during these extended hours are likely in large to be those leaving public houses and noise and disturbance is likely to be fuelled by alcohol”.

The council also said the extended hours would lead to an “unacceptable increase in the inevitable litter in streets”.

Town councillor Ros Lester said: “The fact they have asked for bouncers means they are acknowledging there could be a problem. Who is going to police it to make sure there are two bouncers there? Will the police have to?

“They should have taken into account the fact there are people living around there.”

One Church Lane resident wrote to SODC: “I have already had my letter box kicked off the wall and rubbish and vomit outside my front door.

“I therefore object to this proposals and hope that it will be turned down.”

Committee member Malcolm Leonard said no residents or town councillors attended Monday’s meeting.

He said: “People are worried, but there was no evidence put before us that problems were caused by this particular premises.”

He said the town council could appeal to magistrates against the decision and SODC would investigate any complaints.

 

 

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