Residents incensed by restaurant plan for longer hours

Spanish-style restaurant La Tasca, in Ecclesall Road, Sheffield, has applied to open for an extra two hours, until 1.30am, with a closing time of 3am on some public holidays and 2am on other selected dates.

But people who live nearby have written to licensing bosses to object to the plan, and have been supported by environmental health officers, who say noise from the premises could cause a public nuisance.

Planners will be asked to examine 19 objections, including a letter from an elderly resident of nearby Wadbrough Road who says: “At nearly 84, partially-sighted and alone, I find it very difficult to write.

“However, I am so incensed at these regular applications seemingly to eventually extend to all night or even 24 hours.

“Yes we could sell up and move. At my age and having lived here for 55 years, why should I?”

The local residents association, the Botanical Area Community Association, has also written to object and says: “Our association firmly believes that granting this application would be detrimental to the health and wellbeing of our community.

“The belief is based on our collective experience of the impact of late-night drinking and closing and associated noise from restaurants and bars in the area.

“The one current premises which is permitted to open at these very late times is very noisy and is in fact smaller than La Tasca.”

According to Luton-based La Tasca restaurants, which runs a chain of restaurants around the country, measures are already in place to stop disturbance to residents.

Several restaurants have applied for permission to open later in recent months with many of the applications refused.

The La Tasca application will be considered by the council’s licensing committee next Tuesday.