Noise concerns as KFC applies for 5am licence

Matthew CritchellLocal Democracy reporter
News imageGoogle The exterior of a KFC restaurant in Broomfield Road, Chelmsford. It has a black trim frontage. The KFC branding is on the ground floor, but there is also an upper storey. There is blue sky and clouds above.Google
Owners of the KFC franchise in Broomfield Road, Chelmsford, want a licence to operate until 05:00

A major fast food chain wanting permission to serve food until as late as 05:00 has played down concerns about potential anti-social behaviour.

Neighbours have told Chelmsford City Council that plans to extend the opening hours of the KFC drive-through in Broomfield Road will lead to disturbed sleep.

The restaurant currently has permission to open from 06:00 until 00:30.

Michael Phipps, representing the franchise at a licensing meeting hearing on Monday, said KFC had no power to close off the car park but anyone being noisy would be told to move on.

Phipps told the committee that he expected about 20 vehicles an hour visiting the site but that his business had "no interest in being a bad neighbour".

"I appreciate that that is not a guarantee that everything will be perfect all the time," he said.

"However, where there are issues, we are entirely committed to ensuring they are resolved as quickly and as smoothly as possible."

The committee is expected to return its decision in the coming days, the Local Democracy Reporting Service said.

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