The South London KFC branch wants to stay open until 1am on the weekends
Locals have raised concerns about KFC’s plans to extend the opening hours of a South London branch.
People living near the fast-food restaurant on New Malden High Street raised concerns general noise and littering in the area would get worse if the branch was allowed to stay open later, as it would attract more customers into the night.
The store has applied to extend its closing hour from 11pm to midnight on Sundays to Thursdays, and until 1am on Fridays and Saturdays. Customers would not be allowed into the venue after midnight, when it would become delivery only.
Chris Moore, representing Sussex Close Residents Management Ltd, which is made up of 17 properties, said the extended opening hours would “invariably mean more customers, delivery riders and increased levels of activity – exacerbating the noise and disturbance to residents.”
He told Kingston Council’s licensing hearing on Tuesday (July 7) that while a bin area behind the store had been kept tidy since the application, it had been left “disgusting” on occasions beforehand and the extended hours would mean more litter from customers. He said, however, that the litter could not all be linked to customers from KFC.
Mr Moore added: “The proposal is out of keeping with the surrounding area. New Malden High Street and its environs are not a late-night entertainment spot.”
The application also received seven objections ahead of the meeting.
One objector said residents already had “problems from youths and noisy customers” leaving the branch, and that opening later would only encourage more customers to either “hang around” their street late at night “or pass through making noise, depriving people of their sleep.”
There were no objections from responsible authorities.
Solicitor Matthew Phipps, representing the applicant, said there had been no formal complaints about the branch, which was run well. He said conditions attached to the licence would address any potential issues in future, including littering, and that if residents had further concerns they could ask for a review.
Mr Phipps said the extended opening hours were reasonable and earlier than policy guidelines, which suggested venues in the area could stay open until 2am.
Mr Phipps added: “I’m not in any position to challenge that there may have been some disappointments in the past, and if that’s true I can only apologise for and on behalf of the business, but that doesn’t allow for the conclusion that the application should be refused.”
The council’s decision on the application will be published in the coming days.
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