TILEHURST residents have raised objections over plans to open a new pizza takeaway in Norcot Road.
Vesuvio Pizzeria Ltd has applied to Reading Borough Council for permission to sell food until 2am daily, and alcohol from 11am to 11.30pm. It would takeover the empty Coral betting shop to do so.
Neighbours cite concerns about increased traffic, alcohol related disorder and disturbance.
One raised concerns that it could become a magnet for dealers: “I live on Norcot Road and I see today teenagers on electric bikes and scooters delivering drugs and it will just become another drug drop and collection point, especially at 2am in the morning,” they wrote, adding they would be OK with an 11pm closure.
The objection continues: “This license should be line with the pub opening times on Norcot Road and no later, as I believe it will take up serious amounts of police time as there is a lot of anti-social behaviour in Tilehurst due to little Police presence.”
Another wrote: “The risk of possible damage, violence, anti-social behaviour is increased by introducing a considerable number of people, late at night and having been in an environment where alcohol is involved, is not an acceptable risk for existing residents.
“Generally, any activity involving increased numbers of people, vehicles, and alcohol after 11.30pm is not appropriate for a residential area and it increases the possibility of becoming a public nuisance, safe guarding issue’s and significantly raises the risk of criminal and disorderly behaviour.
“I have lived in the immediate area for more than 15 years, and strongly believe the application will have a detrimental impact on local residents’ human rights.”
A senior planning officer for Reading Borough Council has raised concerns over the legal status of the former Coral shop.
The council gave consent for its conversion from a betting shop into offices under application reference 200766, but this had not happened. If it had, there would be no need for a change of use planning application.
The officer also raised concerns about intensified traffic and its impact on neighbours.
Another resident said they had no objections about the betting shop becoming a takeaway, but felt a 2am closure would cause noise disturbance in a residential area.
“If a licence were to be granted, please consider the feelings of the local residents when making the decision around restrictions to the licence,” they wrote.
A decision on the application is set to be made at a Reading Borough Council licensing meeting held at 9.30am on Thursday, March 2.
