A PIZZA restaurant in Ilkley has applied for permission to sell late night refreshment until 4am on Fridays and Saturdays.

Pizza Palazzo at 3b Dalesway House, South Hawksworth Street, Ilkley, is also requesting permission to sell late night refreshments until midnight Sunday to Thursday and until 4am on Christmas and New Year’s Eve.

The premises currently operate until 11pm seven days a week, opening at 4pm.

F J Yorkshire Ltd, a Keighley based business, has submitted the premises licence application and it will be considered by the Bradford District Licensing Panel when it meets on Tuesday, February 12 at 10am in City Hall.

The applicant says steps to address the licensing objectives include CCTV, full lights outside the premises, a fire escape and fire extinguishers available and the prevention of public nuisance will be achieved by the placing of a notice inside the premises.

The application has attracted three letters of objection from and on behalf of local residents who raise concerns of noise nuisance and boisterous behaviour from people congregating outside the shop. Concerns are also raised regarding anti-social behaviour in the grounds and around the area and litter problems.

One letter from a resident of Listers Court opposing the application says: “Near this building are residential homes, as well as a complex of flats catering for the over 55s.

“The majority of Lister Court’s residents are over 80 and many over 90 and more late night celebrations would be a great intrusion.

“I hope you will refuse this application to preserve the personality of Ilkley; the acceptance would have a negative effect on the town.”

Another resident of Listers Court writes: “The licensing hours as they stand lead to rowdiness, litter on the streets and drunken louts using the gardens around Listers Court as a beer garden, toilet and drug taking until the early hours.

“If this application is granted it would lead to other applications for the same hours, which is, I am sure, not what residents living around the centre of Ilkley want.”