The Licensing Hearing of Northumberland Council is scheduled to consider an application for a new premises licence for a KFC restaurant in Ashington. The meeting will also cover procedural matters related to licensing hearings.

Application for New Premises Licence at KFC Ashington

A key item scheduled for discussion is an application for a new premises licence for KFC Ashington, located at Morpeth Road, Ashington, NE63 8QG. The application, submitted by Woods Whur on behalf of Alderforce North Limited, seeks to permit the licensable activity of Late-Night Refreshment from Monday to Sunday, between 23:00 and 05:00.

The report pack indicates that four objections have been received from interested parties. These objections are primarily based on concerns related to the prevention of public nuisance and the prevention of crime and disorder.

One of the objectors, Ashington Town Council, has stated that the application seeks the entire statutory late night refreshment window, on every night of the year, without any differentiation between weeknights and weekends and without any calibration to the character or sensitivity of the locality. They highlight that the premises are bounded immediately to the north by an established residential estate and that the proposed hours would introduce noise from vehicle movements arriving at and leaving the site; engines idling in the drive-through queue; amplified or raised-voice ordering at the external order point; car doors, horns and audible car stereos during core sleeping hours. The Town Council's representation also raises concerns about litter, odour, light spill, and servicing, suggesting that the operating schedule does not adequately address these issues.

Another representation from an interested party expresses concern that longer opening hours are likely to bring more people into the area late at night. This could lead to more litter, more noise and more disturbance for local residents. This objector also calls for a proper cleaning plan in place and direct funding for local community groups that assist with maintaining the area.

The report pack also outlines the procedure for licensing hearings, including the election of a chair and the disclosure of members' interests.

The members scheduled to attend this hearing are Councillor L Bowman, Councillor Gordon Castle, Councillor Trevor Cessford, and Councillor Alan Smith. Heather Bowers and Heather Gebbie are also listed as attendees, with Heather Bowers acting as the point of contact for enquiries.