IMAGE: N Chadwick
Two Green Party councillors are arguing Ecclesall Road’s KFC should be refused extended opening hours amid public health and residential disturbance concerns.
Sheffield City Council (SCC)’s Licensing Sub-Committee will decide tomorrow whether the fast food chain’s request for an extension from its current 11.30pm closing time to 4am should be approved.
SCC’s Public Health department recommended refusing the fast food chain’s request for extended hours, citing the area as a “high-risk area for crime and disorder” and sharing concerns about noise, traffic disturbance and littering.
Public Health also presented evidence that the combination of takeaway shops and establishments serving alcohol contributes to disturbance, disorder and antisocial behaviour in the area.
It pointed out that the branch sits in an area of deprivation higher than the national average, and that high numbers of fast-food outlets in areas of higher deprivation can be associated with the rise in obesity.
“Extending this premises closing time to 4am risks exacerbating existing health inequalities,” the recommendation read.
Green Party Councillors for Broomhill and Sharrow Vale, Angela Argenzio and Brian Holmshaw, also argued against extending KFC’s opening hours.
In similarly-worded emails, the councillors asked the Licensing Committee to reject the application: “The late opening of licenced premises already affects local people, with an increase in antisocial behaviour, noise, and taxis waiting with their engines running.
“Also, extra litter has been reported, and more importantly there has been an increase in crime against women (sexual harassment), especially in the area near the botanical gardens, which are opposite the location of this business.”
Gethin Spencer, 23, a student who lives on Ecclesall Road, said he would prefer for the establishment to remain closed after midnight, despite it being his favourite KFC in Sheffield.
“I don’t want anyone on a drunken night out flocking past my house, loud and rowdy, and I don’t want KFC to be the benefactor of why I’m losing sleep,” Mr Spencer said.
However, KFC’s representative rebuked these claims, calling the councillors’ concerns “broad” and “area-wide”, without “premises-specific evidence”.
KFC also said the application was not objected to by South Yorkshire Police.
“The absence of a police objection is the strongest indicator that our extended hours will not undermine the crime and disorder objective,” said the response.
It suggested that noise disturbances would be limited because of the premises’ door closing mechanism, and that staff will conduct litter patrols within the precinct every 30 minutes after midnight.
“There is no evidence of safety concerns arising from this site,” the representative added.
