THE owner of a wine bar in Ilkley will today try to convince Bradford planners that extending its opening hours will not cause disturbance to nearby residents.

Luther Jackson, the co-licensee of Tubby Wadlow's wine bar on The Grove, told the Gazette: "I can't understand why they want to turn us down."

Mr Jackson wants the wine bar to be able to open until 1.30am to be able to compete with other restaurants in the area.

"We want to be a restaurant and wine bar but what we have got is a pub licence," said Mr Jackson.

At present the restaurant has to close at 11.30, a condition of a previous planning application to change the premises from a shop to a wine bar.

But planning officers have recommended that councillors refuse the application to extend the hours.

A report to the Keighley area planing committee says: "It is considered that there are insufficient grounds to extend the opening hours beyond those recommended in the policy for cafes, restaurants and takeaways.

"The removal of the condition would be likely to lead to unacceptable late night disturbance for local residents."

But Mr Jackson, who is an Ilkley Parish Councillor, said that customers would be leaving late only on Friday and Saturday nights if permission was granted.

"We are in the restaurant quarter of the town and don't get any trouble down here," said Mr Jackson.

He said he would be addressing members of the planning committee to put his case for an extension of hours.

Ilkley Parish Council recommended that the application should be approved but the town's Civic Society sent an official objection.

Helen Kidman, vice-chairman of Ilkley Civic Society, said: "We objected to noise late at night."

The report says that there was also a letter of objection from the nearby Brown's restaurant and five local residents.

Planners received a petition of support containing 71 signatures which the report says were presumably from Tubby Wadlow's customers.

"The petitioners do not live in close proximity and members are recommended not to give the petition undue weight," says the report.

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