Radcliffe takeaway LA Pizza granted 2am opening at weekends

LA Pizza, at 106 Water Street, applied to Bury Council for a new premises licence allowing it to open from 2pm until 2am, seven days a week.

The application also sought permission to provide late-night refreshments between 11pm and 2am each day.

Two representations were submitted against the application, with concerns focusing on the potential impact of later opening hours on nearby residents and the surrounding area.

The application was considered by Bury Council's Licensing Hearing Sub Committee on Thursday (October 29), with councillors hearing from the applicant and objectors before reaching a decision.

Licensing officer Michael Bridge presented the report and confirmed that the application was for a new premises licence, rather than a variation of an existing one.

Reform UK Cllr David Hill asked whether the applicant intended to trade until 2am every day of the week.

Mr Bridge confirmed this was what had been requested, but explained that permission to open until 2am would not oblige the business to remain open until that time every night.

During the hearing, which the applicant attended by phone, councillors questioned him about how the takeaway would operate late at night.

Cllr Hill asked where deliveries and collections would take place, particularly given the proximity of homes on Water Lane.

The applicant said these would take place at the front of the premises on Water Street.

Concerns were also raised about staff using the bins at the rear of the takeaway, as well as noise from extraction equipment late at night.

The applicant said the back door would remain closed and rubbish would be bagged before being taken to larger industrial bins at the end of the night.

Asked why he wanted to extend the opening hours, he said customers had asked him to keep the shop open later.

The applicant expected the business to close at around 1am but wanted permission until 2am to provide flexibility when needed.

Radcliffe First Cllr Mary Walsh questioned the applicant about staff training, including how employees would identify and respond to suspicious or antisocial behaviour.

The applicant said he would be at the takeaway every day with staff and had trained two other employees in basic health and safety procedures.

Further questions were raised about litter and potential noise from the extraction fan.

Radcliffe First Cllr Judi Sheppard then outlined her objections to the application.

She said: “My goal isn’t to stop local business from trading, it’s to keep local residents safe.”

Her concerns included noise nuisance, public safety and the potential for people to gather outside the takeaway late at night.

Cllr Sheppard told the committee that the surrounding streets became quiet late at night and raised concerns about noise carrying to nearby homes.

She also highlighted the narrow pavement outside the premises, warning about the potential for customers and delivery drivers to cause obstructions.

Litter in surrounding streets and bright external lighting affecting neighbouring properties were also among her concerns.

Cllr Sheppard asked the committee to refuse the application.

Alternatively, she suggested that walk-in customers could be stopped after 11pm, with the takeaway operating through deliveries only.

Radcliffe First Cllr Des Duncalfe also raised concerns about antisocial behaviour in the wider area, referring to groups of young people.

Mr Bridge told the hearing that a licence holder could be brought back before the authority if problems such as antisocial behaviour arose.

The committee then adjourned to consider the application.

When the hearing resumed, chairman Labour Cllr Babar Ibrahim confirmed that the panel had reached a decision.

The subcommittee granted the premises licence but reduced the hours requested to explicitly on weekends.

LA Pizza will be permitted to open from 2pm until midnight from Sunday to Thursday, and from 2pm until 2am on Fridays and Saturdays.