A Perth takeaway owner fears more city centre businesses will shut after his bid to open until 3.30am was rejected.
Ayasofya Turkish Grill on Scott Street is open until 1am each day – in line with other takeaways in the city.
Owner Erol Yazgam applied to the council to stay open later on Friday to Monday mornings – claiming he regularly has to turn away “angry” customers who appear after pubs and clubs shut.
But councillors voted to reject the application at a meeting on Thursday – saying Erol had failed to provide “sufficient evidence” to sway them.
‘People are crying for chips at the end of the night’
Presenting his case to councillors, Erol said: “A lot of people are coming after 1am, especially from Edinburgh, Dundee, a lot of other cities.
“They are thinking that everywhere is the same, open until 3.30am.
“I wish I could record it to show you people’s reaction – they are so disappointed.
“Some people are even crying, asking for even one portion of chips at the end of the night.
“At the moment I have to lock our door at 1am. I have to argue with the people to say I’m closed. They are hungry and they are angry.”
Following the decision, Erol told The Courier he intends on applying again.
He said: “I feel like there’s no reason for it to be rejected. I had hope it would be approved.
‘No wonder business is dead in Perth’
“It’s no wonder business is dead in the city – they are shutting down one by one.
“You see other high streets like Kirkcaldy for example – Perth is going to be like that too.
“Saturday night is our busiest night and we’ve to shut early, before a peak time for trading.
“The council are worried about the noise and sound in the streets but I don’t know if they ever go out on a Saturday and see what the noise is like.”
Perth and Kinross Council’s policy only allows city centre takeaways to open until 1am.
The only fast food outlets open past that time are McDonald’s and BP garages outside the city centre.
The council has previously been accused of being “anti-business” for turning down late-hours licences.
Why was the late hours bid rejected?
Councillors were unanimous in rejecting the application.
Committee convener Mike Williamson said: “My rationale is that you haven’t demonstrated there is a sufficient reason to depart from the policy.”
His motion for refusal was seconded by Chris Ahern, who said: “I don’t think during the debate that there was sufficient evidence to warrant the demand that the licence is to be extended beyond 1am to 3.30am.
“What we did hear is that there business has been quiet and that it is quiet.
“Because of that, I don’t see any evidence that the license should be extended beyond 1am.”
A separate motion for extending the licence on a Sunday morning only was voted down by six to four.
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