A TAKEAWAY in Bierley has been given a licence to stay open until 2am.

Tong Fried Chicken, off Tong Street, was granted the late licence to serve food despite an objection from the Bradford Chamber of Trade, which raised concerns that a late night takeaway in that area could lead to anti-social behaviour.

The decision to grant the later request was approved by Bradford Council’s District Licensing Panel at a meeting today.

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But the business will still need to apply for planning permission before it changes its hours.

The Chamber of Trade had objected on behalf of one of its members, and sent a letter to the panel calling for the later licence to be refused.

They claimed there had been a number of incidents in the area in recent years - including a shooting in the nearby Holme Wood estate in January. They said many of these problems had been linked to the now closed De Lacey pub.

The building, 2 Railway Street, has been a takeaway since 2011, and applicant Wajid Ali bought the business six yeas ago.

Addressing the panel he said: “In six years I’ve never had a single complaint or big incident.

“There are many takeaways in the area that close at 2am.

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“The objection says there was a shooting on the estate, but we’re away from that on the main road.”

He told the panel there was a “high demand” for his business to remain open until 2am.

Councillor Riaz Ahmed (Lib Dem, Bradford Moor) spoke on behalf of Mr Ali as his ward councillor.

He said: “In six years he has not had one complaint from police or neighbours. There is this one objection, but that seems to refer to incidents at the De Lacey pub, which has closed down, and a shooting in Holme Wood which had no connection with these premises.”

When plans to turn the unit into a takeaway were approved in 2011, planners included a condition that it could not open after midnight to “safeguard the amenity of nearby residents”.

Mr Ali told the panel he planned to submit a planning application to change that condition.

The panel then approved the new, later licence.