A RESTAURANT will be allowed to place more tables and chairs on a pavement despite concerns that late-night noise will disturb long-suffering elderly neighbours.
The owners of Thai Gallery in Worcester’s Friar Street have been given permission to place some tables and chairs outside its restaurant until 11pm every night but will only be allowed to place them on one side of the road.
Worcester City Council’s licensing subcommittee backed the plans at a meeting in the Guildhall on Tuesday (May 31) but ruled the city centre restaurant would not be able to place any tables on the opposite side of the pavement in Friar Street to better protect the nearby residents.
The restaurant had wanted to place 19 tables on the pavement on both sides of the road but councillors said there was not enough space and it would ‘create a pinch point’.
Councillors were also concerned it would block ambulances and other vehicles from accessing Friar Street.
Cllr Jenny Barnes, who chaired the meeting, said: “We don’t think there is enough space, particularly for emergency vehicles and vehicles travelling in the evenings when there are less restrictions.
“We believe that if there was a situation where vehicles and pedestrians are in conflict, the pedestrians may not be able to get out of the way in a timely way.
“With that in mind, the east side of the street, we don’t believe is viable.”
Concerns had been raised about late-night noise and disruption from Laslett’s Charities who own and manage a number of almshouses for elderly residents.
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In a letter of objection, Laslett’s Charities, who own and manage a number of almshouses for elderly residents opposite the restaurant, said allowing more tables on the street would “have an adverse effect on the living quality of [its] residents” who were already having to suffer from constant late-night noise.
Laslett’s Charities said it would like to see the plan scrapped completely but is willing to compromise and has asked for the number of tables to be reduced to nine.
No objections were raised by West Mercia Police, Hereford and Worcester Fire and Rescue Service or the highways department at Worcestershire County Council.
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