THE owner of a Basingstoke nightclub has objected to plans to open a new fast-food takeaway next door to his business.

As previously reported, plans have been approved to change the use of a ground-floor unit in Wote Street from a barbershop to a hot food takeaway.

However, Ernie Phelps, from nightclub Plush, opposed to the plans because of concerns around crime and disorder and noise to neighbours in residential properties.

He said: “I operate the premises next door and work very hard in keeping the noise outside our premises to a minimum so to not to annoy or upset our neighbours.

“If a takeaway was to open next to us with a late night licence, I think there would be an increase in crime and disorder due to people from not just our bar, but from all the venues in town, meeting up late at night and this would sometimes end up with people arguing or fighting in or outside the takeaway and people shouting or screaming outside the takeaway whilst under the influence of alcohol and this would upset our residential neighbours.”

The kebab shop has been granted permission to open from 12 to 11pm Sunday to Thursday and 10am to 2am on Fridays and Saturdays.

The council has asked the owners of the kebab shop to complete a noise assessment within one month of opening, to be carried out by a qualified acoustic consultant.

This is to ensure that “acceptable noise levels within the neighbouring dwellings…are not exceeded”.