A RESTAURANT owner banned from extending the hours his customers and staff can use a pontoon at Folly Bridge is waiting to hear if his appeal has been successful.

In September last year, Oxford City Council rejected an application for Aziz Pandesia to extend the hours from 9.30pm to 11pm. Two months later, the council threw out a similar application to extend the hours until 10.30pm.

Both decisions were taken because of concerns over potential noise nuisance to neighbours.

Restaurant owner Aziz Ur-Rahman claimed there had been no problems with noise pollution over the past three years.

He presented his case to a Government planning inspector at Oxford Town Hall yesterday.

He said: “I think it went reasonably well – we got our arguments across and it was a positive experience.

“I believe we have got grounds for someone independent to make a decision in our favour.

“We don’t attract rowdiness – we attract people who want to enjoy good food.”

City council spokesman Louisa Dean said: “We expect to hear the outcome from the inspector in four to six weeks.”