Croydon (Parliament Politics Magazine) – Pizza City in Croydon has submitted plans to extend its opening hours to 3am, sparking concerns among residents over noise and late-night disturbances.
The Licensing Sub-Committee of Croydon Council will meet tomorrow, April 15, at 10.30 a.m., to consider Pizza City’s (formerly Best Kebab’s) request for a premises license to provide late-night refreshments.
Currently, Pizza City, which is situated at 60 Shirley Road, is open every day from 12 to 11 p.m.
However, Faisal Khan Niazi, the applicant, is requesting that the business remain open until 2 a.m. on Sunday through Thursday and until 3 a.m. on Friday and Saturday.
Customers will be able to enter the store until it closes, and delivery will be available all day.
Four licensing objectives must be met by the applicant in order for the application to be accepted: protecting minors from injury, preventing public nuisances, preventing crime and disturbance, and promoting public safety.
The council has received assurances from Pizza City that it will fulfill all requirements.
According to Mr. Niazi, the staff will post reminder messages on the walls in an effort to reduce noise and loud chatting.
All staff members who work the late shift will also get training on how to handle rowdy patrons.
The personnel will “not argue with any customers if they are making any problems,” according to Mr. Niazi, and CCTV footage will be kept for at least 30 days and “be produced on the request of the police” in order to meet the requirements of preventing crime and unrest.
A4-sized warning signs alerting patrons to the presence of CCTV will be posted at all entrances and in the public sections of the building.
To meet the criteria of public safety, Mr Niazi said that staff would “serve takeaway orders as quickly as possible to avoid many customers in the premises”.
He explained that the shop adheres to the philosophy of “the customer is always right” and is committed to always treating customers with respect.
In order to meet the criteria of the prevention of public nuisance, Pizza City staff will ask customers to “respect our neighbours if they are making any noise” and that all delivery drivers will leave the shop “very quietly”.
Doors and windows will be closed as much as possible, and it will be staff policy to “leave the premises quickly and quietly”,
Mr Niazi said.
Finally, when it came to the criteria of protecting children from harm, Mr Niazi said in his application letter: “Where there is a risk to children, measures should be taken to ensure their safety and wellbeing.”
He added: “All our staff must treat all the children with respect.”
Even if the application satisfies every condition set forth in the Licensing Act 2003, not everyone is in favor of it.
Working long hours can cause staff weariness, which can affect their wellbeing and, if not adequately managed, can result in burnout.
Longer hours usually result in higher operating costs for the company, such as personnel, electricity, and security expenditures.
It may be necessary to secure additional licenses or permits in order to extend hours, which can be expensive and time-consuming.
The surrounding ecology may suffer as a result of problems like litter, traffic, and safety concerns brought on by an increase in late-night activities.
The council received an objection from a person who asked to remain anonymous.
The resident states:
“There is a pub a few yards on the opposite side of the road. My worry is that if they want more alcohol after the pub has shut, they will visit the shop.
I live here on my own and would be extremely worried about large groups of drunk people outside, and having been a victim of crime, I would not feel safe in my own home.”
The resident also expressed concerns about how Oasis Academy is nearby and that the extended hours will “entice children” and that there will be a “temptation to try and buy alcohol there”.
They added:
“This licence will not bring anything to the community.
Shirley Road is a busy road, but a very residential area and normally quiet on footfall by 11pm. These extended hours will just bring unwanted nuisance, rubbish, and unwanted behaviour that nobody wants.”
By Tuesday, April 22, the Licensing Sub-Committee of Croydon Council will render a decision.
The council meeting is open to everyone.
What are the main arguments against the extended hours?
By extending operation hours, companies may be able to meet late-night demand and boost sales and profits. This is especially advantageous for businesses that serve late-night patrons, such as Pizza City.
Extended business hours give clients greater freedom to use services whenever it’s most convenient for them, such late at night or after work.
Businesses can stand out from the competition and draw in clients who like late-night dining or shopping by remaining open later than their rivals.
Flexibility in staffing and job creation: Longer hours may lead to more flexible staffing arrangements or the creation of new job possibilities, both of which are advantageous for workers looking for non-traditional schedules.
Noise disruptions from late-night operations may impact the local population and perhaps result in complaints.