Residents say they are not being listened to

Two residents’ groups say the area’s night-time economy, while good for businesses, is causing problems with litter, anti-social behaviour, chaotic parking and noise.

Council licensing staff sent a letter to all businesses in the area, asking them to check they were opening within the hours they were licensed for.

Three outlets on Great Horton Road – takeaway Hot Grill, ice-cream parlour Icestone Gelato and curryhouse and Asian sweet shop Ambala – then applied for late licences to sell food.

At a meeting of the Bradford District Licensing Panel yesterday, Najib Khan, secretary of Shearbridge Residents’ Association, and Councillor Ruqayyah Collector (Ind, City), speaking on behalf of the residents of Summerseat Place, described the problems locals were having.

The meeting also heard Icestone Gelato and Hot Grill had failed test purchase operations only last week by selling hot food or drink to an undercover officer outside permitted hours.

Despite this, all three applications were fully or partly approved.

Junaid Zeb, owner of Hot Grill, acknowledged the street could be noisy. He said: “We do have customers going up and down Great Horton Road playing loud music, but you can’t really say much can you?”

Zulfiqar Karim, of Ambala, said keeping the area free of litter would become a “personal crusade” and they would even consider greasing the shutters so they made less noise at closing time.

The panel granted the applications, apart from Icestone Gelato, which was given permission to open late on Fridays and Saturdays only.

Panel chairman Councillor John Ruding said residents’ concerns about parking and loud music were not licensing issues.

He said: “We can’t take into account the fact that some people drive round with music playing so loud they are almost making the windows fall out.”

e-mail: claire.armstrong@telegraphandargus.co.uk