OWNERS of a town centre pizza and kebab hut have claimed frustrated and hungry drinkers smash their windows if they do not open late.

Councillors are being urged to crack down on late opening and planners say since the closure of Horace's, Bacup's only nightclub, there should be no late night drinking in the town as nowhere has a late licence.

Councillors will meet tonight to decide whether to allow the takeaway to open from 5pm to midnight from Sunday to Thursday and 5pm to 2am Friday and Saturday.

The takeaway was given permission in 1989 to open between noon and 11pm from Sunday to Thursday and noon to midnight from Friday to Saturday.

But Rossendale Chief Planning Officer Philip Cunliffe says the premises have operated outside these hours for some time. Mr Cunliffe is urging the council's planning sub-committee to turn down the application, despite the reports of attacks on the premises when it shuts early.

He says: "There should be no reason for individuals to be coming out of licensed premises other than at the normal time. This situation does arise but it is not a reason for consent for extended hours being granted."

"There are currently no licensed premises which allow drinking to continue beyond normal closing hours and there should be no justification for opening till 2am.

"This late closing at which people want takeaways is not a justification for the continuation of the hours and I consider that midnight is an acceptable cut-off for the operation."

Council staff are also concerned that late opening of the pizza and kebab hut could be one reason why flats in the area are empty.

Environmental Health Chief David Taylor believes the takeaway is too close to neighbouring homes to justify opening beyond midnight because of the impact on local residents of "possible anti-social behaviour, noise and activity".

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