Residents battle restaurant plans

Licensing officers are currently considering an application for a Thai restaurant on Ecclesall Road, which protesters say is already home to dozens of pubs, cafes, bars, takeaways and restaurants.

The applicant wants to open between noon and midnight seven days a week, but residents say the licence should not be granted following discussions with council officers.

They are worried that loud music will be played late at night, that there will disturbances when customers leave the premises, and that there will be problems with cooking smells.

The applicant, Chesterfield-based Damrong Thai Ltd, says it plans to introduce measures to address all these concerns, but a final decision will be made by a licensing committee next week.

In its application. Damrong Thai says: "There will be signage cautioning customers from making any noise when leaving the premises late at night.

"Music will be controlled so as to prevent noise and vibration escaping from the premises including sound proofing.

"The sound level of music will be controlled so as to prevent it being audible outside the premises or, in the case of outdoor events, to be audible off the site.

"The siting and design of kitchen extraction and ventilation systems will be such as to minimise noise and vibration escaping from the premises."

The site of the proposed restaurant at 607-609 Ecclesall Road is close to Sheffield's Botanical Gardens and members of the residents' association in the area have already protested to the council.

Daryl Bennett, the chairman of the Botanical Area Community

Association, says in a letter to licensing officers that the

association will be lodging an official objection.

He added: "The objection is that our association has agreed that it is detrimental to the health and well-being of out community to experience the impact of late-night drinking and the noise associated with late closing restaurants and bars in the area.

"We have made it clear in a number of previous objections to the council and in our written vision for the development of our community, which is supported by residents, that we wish to see all bars and restaurants closed by 11.30pm at the very latest."

Over the last 12 months, residents on Ecclesall Road have become increasingly unhappy over what they see as a "proliferation" of restaurants, bars and takeaways in the community.

Council officers have been instructed by senior councillors to work on a so-called "saturation policy" which could lead to a limit being placed on any other applications for licensed premises.

Another resident, Marion Gerson, who lives in Wilson Road, close to Ecclesall Road, has also objected to the application for the Thai restaurant and said it should not be granted.

She added: "Having taken part in various meetings I know that there have been very strong representations from all residents groups for areas affected by the increasing noise and disturbance up to an beyond midnight from eating and drinking establishments on Ecclesall Road.

"Not only would approval of this application pre-empt the council's policy decision, but it would immediately be followed by other applications by dozens of other establishments on the grounds of parity.

"This area is largely inhabited by families with young children, professional people who need to be able to get a good night's sleep and get up in the mornings and by some quiet elderly people."