Burgess Road: City leader 'minded to object' to Burger King’s 24-hour drive-through plan

By Jason Lewis, Local Democracy Reporter

Burger King stock image LDRSA Burger King restaurant in a “highly residential” part of Southampton has tabled plans to offer a 24-hour drive-through service.

Photo: LDRS

 

 

Article continues after this message...

Burger King wants to extend its operating hours at the site in Burgess Road, Swaythling.

The business is currently open to in-store and drive-through customers from 9am to 11pm seven days a week.

A premises licence application has been submitted to Southampton City Council as permission is needed to sell hot food and drinks from 11pm to 5am.

The application for late-night refreshment says the restaurant wants to operate 24 hours a day.

Burger King said the internal restaurant would be closed from 11pm, with overnight sales only taking place through the drive through facility.

A spokesperson for the fast-food business said: “At Burger King UK, we’re always looking for ways to develop and strengthen our offering for our customers, which includes increasing our service hours.

“We know customers in Southampton value convenience, and we’re therefore in the ongoing process of exploring this option.

“We are considering all factors that come with a 24-hour service, balancing customer convenience with the needs of the local community, to ensure our customers have the very best experience possible”

The application to the local authority’s licensing department, which was submitted on August 12, has attracted an objection from ward councillor and leader of the council Lorna Fielker.

She said: “I am minded to object to this licence due to the restaurant being in a highly residential area and it is not in keeping with the closing hours of other takeaway outlets in the vicinity.

“If it [the licensing department] is minded to approve a licence I would like to request that a condition of the licence is that the outdoor seating is removed to reduce noise associated with the hours of operation.

“The use of the outdoor seating area post 11pm by delivery drivers waiting to collect, or staff members on breaks, particularly through the warm summer months, would create noise which would disturb local residents.”

The public consultation on the premises licence application closes on Monday, September 9.

Photo: Stock photo of Burger King branding at a restaurant in Southampton. Photo: LDRS


ldrs logo 200px This article is from the Local Democracy Reporting Service or Shared Data Unit. Some alterations and additions may have been made by our site, which is a partner in the BBC's Local News Partnerships scheme. LDRS journalists are funded by the BBC to cover local authorities and other public service organisations, and content is shared with all partners.


We're reader powered! Please help us keep publishing today...

Our local news is currently free to view, but not to produce. Join people just like you who already chip in to keep our site going by becoming a 'Good Friend' supporter for just £2.99 a month - or more if you can.

Use the subscribe button below using a debit or credit card securely via PayPal. You don't need a PayPal account - just use the "Pay with Debit or Credit Card' option, when you click the 'Subscribe' button below, on the next screen. There's no obligation to open a PayPal account. Or use your existing PayPal account if you prefer. Or even better, contact us to set up a standing order so we get all your sub rather than PayPal taking a percentage.

Click here for other options/to set up a standing order - and help us keep on keeping on.

It's appreciated!

Subcription Options

 

Alternatively make a one-off donation here - you don't need a PayPal account for this option either.