Papa Johns in Christchurch denied a late-night license to open until 5 AM due to noise concerns.
People would order and then collect their food, a process that could bother residents very early. Papa John’s runs the Barrack Road location. They did not attend the meeting or defend their late-night proposal.
The council’s health team objected to the plan, as did a flat owner living above the shop. One person wrote a letter supporting the application and wanted late-night hours for food and drink, extended from 11 PM until midnight Sunday to Thursday, and until 5 AM on Friday and Saturday.
Several other takeaways operate on the same road. One closes at 12:30 AM other days, and another has a license until 1 AM every night.
Paul Barker, an environmental health officer, said late-night food places often cause disturbance when delivery drivers and customers gather outside to collect food. Barker stated that these hours were simply unsuitable. The flat owner can hear orders being taken, phones ringing and customers and staff gathering outside at night.
Delivery drivers create more noise, and customers also make noise when picking up orders. Motorcycle delivery drivers add to the noise issues, and the heavy door shutting causes disturbance.
The flat owner claimed 5 AM hours would hurt his property, making it hard to rent the flat, and he might face financial hardship.