LATEST NEWS: Fast-food restaurant granted 24-hour licence despite others being declined

A 24-HOUR opening at the newest Bradford branch of a fast food giant could add to the late night anti-social behaviour problems experienced in the area - according to Council officers.

Taco Bell is opening a new branch on the junction of Ingleby Road and Thornton Road this week.

Initially its opening hours will be between 11am and 11pm, but the Mexican food giant has applied to Bradford Council for a licence that would allow it to open 24 hours a day.

Next Tuesday the Council’s Licensing Panel will meet to decide whether to approve this all day opening.

Food businesses need a specific licence, for “late night refreshment” if they want to open between 11pm and 5am.

But officers in the council who are familiar with the area say a new business with a late licence and a car park could “add to the anti-social gathering of vehicles already being experienced” in the Ingleby Road area, which they describe as a “magnet” for people wanting fast food at night.

Plans to build a new restaurant in the car park of the existing KFC on Ingleby Road were approved by the Council earlier this year.

In May it was revealed that Taco Bell would be the business taking on the unit.

It will open on Friday - and when it does it will be the company’s 62nd UK restaurant.

Taco Bell to open in unit just yards from under construction secondary school

Recent years have seen a number of new food and drink businesses open in the Ingleby Road area, near this new Taco Bell and alongside fast food businesses that have been there for years.

As well as the KFC, within a few metres of the Taco Bell site there is a McDonalds, Subway, Dominos and a “food court” site which is home to a chai cafe, Mother Hubbards fish and chip restaurant and a donut store among other street food and take away businesses.

A new secondary academy is currently being built on a site on Thornton Road - a short distance from all these businesses.

In April the Licensing Committee refused an application by chai cafe Cha Cha Chai, based at the food court on Ingleby Road, to open for 24 hours a day.

At that meeting members heard that the Council received regular complaints about anti-social behaviour and noise at the food court.

Large numbers of visitors to the businesses there also led to traffic congestion - the committee heard.

Members were told that every business on that site had been handed a community protection notice preventing vehicular access to the food court site between 11.30pm and 7am.

The next month an application for another business at the site, Cha Donuts, to open until 2am was also refused due to traffic and anti social behaviour concerns.

A report into the Taco Bell application that will go to the Licensing Panel on Tuesday raises similar concerns that a late night food venue could attract large crowds of people who would congregate in the car park of the business.

A response to the application from the Council’s Bradford West Area Co-Ordinator’s office says: “We are of the opinion that granting a 24 hours license at this site will increase and add to the anti-social gathering of vehicles and individuals already being experienced in this area, thus having an adverse impacting on nearby residents.

“To limit the hours of operation would prevent public nuisance and increasing crime and disorder.

“I would request the committee to take into account the increasing popularity of food and beverage vendors at the top end of Ingleby road in this vicinity, it is becoming a magnet for those wanting fast food and drinks, this needs to be balanced against the impact on local residents, the road and transport infrastructure being on a main gateway, and the longer term impact of managing public safety, crime and community issues on public service organisations.”

A letter written to the committee by a resident of the area also highlights issues caused by businesses opening late in the area, including litter and anti-social behaviour.

The report says Taco Bell would operate a zero tolerance policy on drugs, that the business would liaise with police on any issues and that there would be CCTV installed at the branch.

The company says signage will encourage customers to leave the site quietly when they have finished eating.

The Committee meets in Bradford City Hall at 10am on Tuesday.

Taco Bell has been contacted for a comment.