A DECISION whether to grant an alcohol licence to a new bar in Bradford’s top of town area will be made later this month.

Plans to convert the vacant former Cooker Centre building at the corner of North Parade and Rawson Square into a cafe/bar was approved in December.

On December 10 the man behind the scheme, Haseeb Raja, will find out if he will be able to sell alcohol at the venue when the business is discussed by the Bradford District Licensing Panel.

Members will hear that a number of objections to the licence have been made - all of which have near identical wording and say the venue will disrupt the lives of those living in the area.

The application is to sell alcohol from 10am to midnight on Monday to Thursday, 10am to 2am on Friday and Saturday and from noon to midnight on Sundays.

There will be a snooker room on the first floor, and the plans also include outdoor seating.

In recent years the North Parade area has become one of the main evening destinations in the city centre, with numerous bars opening.

But the objectors to the plans for the latest venue say these businesses have become a “constant cause of nuisance to the locality.” They say the bars also lead to “anti-social” elements gathering on North Parade.

The Council’s Environmental Health department has said the venue would be near an apartment building, 10 Rawson Square, and so noise from the business should be kept to a minimum, with windows and doors remaining closed.

Eight letters of objection have been sent to the council over the licence.

Although the names and addresses are redacted, the eight letters all follow a nearly identical template.

Seven are from residents and say: “The street North Parade has itself hosts a number of pubs and restaurants which have been a constant cause of nuisance to the locality.

“There have been a number of events hosted every week and one can hear the loud music going on through the night causing constant disturbance.

“One can hardly imagine the disturbance if one opens next door.”

Another objection is from someone stating they are the landlord of a building in the area, although they live in York.

They say their tenants are unable to get “adequate rest” because of the nighttime activity on the street and urge the licence to be refused.

The redevelopment of the building will also see existing metal cladding removed and replaced with timber frames.

The scheme had originally been refused by Bradford Council over concerns the area was being saturated with bars. Planners referred to the lack of daytime trade on the street.

But plans were resubmitted, with more of a focus on the cafe element, that would be open from 10am, which won over planners.

The committee meets in City Hall at 10am.