Staffordshire KFC can serve customers until 3am after licence hearing

A Tamworth fast food restaurant can now serve customers until 3am, as councillors grant a premises licence, despite objections from local residents. Fears were raised that extending opening times would lead to an increase in antisocial behaviour.

KFC on Ninian Way in the Tame Valley Industrial Estate applied to Tamworth Borough Council on 1 April this year for a premises licence. The restaurant sought permission to serve customers indoors until midnight throughout the week and operate the drive-through until 3am on a Friday and Saturday.

The hearing took place on Thursday 28 May and none of the seven objectors attended the meeting to answer questions based on their concerns. Additionally, representatives from KFC were not present.

Concerns were raised by councillors, including an increase in traffic, antisocial behaviour already at the site and what the impact would be. However, a council officer said that without the applicant being present it would not be possible to answer the questions.

A number of conditions were agreed by KFC and Staffordshire Police prior to the hearing taking place. They include CCTV being installed in all internal areas, that food can only be delivered to an address and not an open space, and the last sale of hot food must be made 15 minutes before the premises is closed.

After 30 minutes of deliberation, councillors agreed to grant the application in full with the conditions from the police.

The council legal advisor told the hearing: “The sub-committee noted that objections were received from residents, however, none appeared in person at the meeting. Similarly, the applicant has not attended the meeting, nor were they represented at the same.

“The sub-committee did note the contents of the objector’s objections in arriving at its decision but were not able to explore the content of the objections further due to the objectors’ absence from the hearing.

“Staffordshire Police have agreed conditions with the applicant and on that basis made no objections to the application and no objections were received from other responsible authorities.”