Residents' concerns over 24-hour Burger King plans

Plans for a Burger King restaurant in East Sussex to stay open 24 hours a day have sparked concerns from dozens of local residents.

Nearly 30 objections have been sent to Brighton & Hove City Council after the fast-food chain applied for a late-night refreshment licence for its Goldstone Retail Park branch in Hove.

Residents have complained about anti-social behaviour in the car park, which is opposite Hove Park, as well as cooking smells, litter and people urinating in public.

Parties will be able to put forward their concerns in a licensing hearing on Monday.

Alan Moon, chairman of Friends of Hove Park, told Radio Sussex: "What we have a problem with is if this means people bringing more rubbish into the park and just dropping it in the park.

"Hove Park is really beautiful and well used and we are all trying to keep it looking good.

"What would be a really nice idea is if Burger King could sponsor some litter bins in the park to alleviate the problem."

The restaurant has applied for a late-night licence to sell food and drink from 23:00 to 05:00, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service.

Objections have also been raised by Goldsmid ward councillor Jackie O'Quinn, as well as the council's own licensing team, which opposed the plans on the grounds it would breach the council's own policy.

Sussex Police and the council's environmental protection team have agreed draft conditions with restaurant operators, Leon Kennedy Ltd, which also runs the North Street and King's Road stores in the city.

The draft conditions would limit the sale of hot food and drink to drive-through customers only from 11pm.

A direct telephone number for the manager would also be made available to nearby residents and businesses – and litter patrols would be carried out in the area.

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