Some residents are concerned that late opening hours could increase noise and anti-social behaviour
PERMISSION has been given to convert a former newsagent’s on Colchester Avenue into a coffee shop offering food to take out.
Councillors at a planning committee on November 9 decided unanimously that the outlet would be able to welcome customers from 7am to 11pm.
The premises at 7 Lady Margaret Court is currently the Avenue barber shop. The small row of shops also contains Penylan Fish shop and Beans to Coffee – a café which opened its doors last month.
A petition was signed by 59 concerned residents from Cardiff, 44 of whom are from the local area. They think the opening hours are too late and might encourage anti-social behaviour.
Another issue raised was that it may encourage children to eat unhealthily as it is close to a school and the type of food that will be sold is unclear.
“Do we feel that siting an eat in/takeaway fast food premises would help or hinder the obesity crises?” said the petition.
Councillor Imran Latif sent comments supporting the concerns of residents.
“Whilst I do not like to see empty shops within my ward any proposal has to be right for the area. The late-night noise that this will generate doesn’t sit well within a residential area such as this,” he said.
He suggested the closing time be limited to 6pm but did not object during the committee meeting.
In response to the petition, the applicant, Dr Mohammed Gazi, claimed it was “clearly political, based on false assumptions and unsupported statements”.
Dr Gazi first proposed the change in July of 2020, but the application was withdrawn after a similar petition was sent.
“It is also ironic that the owner of the fish and chips in shop 6 is objecting to the possible smell arising from serving hot food in shop number 7 when the worse smell is that of frying chips for many hours on end,” he said.
