A resident who said rats have tried to eat through their door has objected to a restaurant’s licence bid in North Yorkshire.
Papas Fish and Chips is set to return to its former site at Baxtergate near Whitby’s iconic Swing Bridge, but a neighbour who said that rats attracted by food waste have been eating through his property’s door frame is opposed to the plan.
The resident said: “Our private rental property shares the yard with this business premises where rats are already a problem.
“Seagulls have also previously raided improperly stored bin bags containing food waste, leading to the spread of soiled food in the yard and attracting even more rats.
“We’re currently waiting for our back door to be replaced by our landlord due to these rats having eaten the door and frame to try and enter our property.”
The fish and chip restaurant chain, which is set to return to Whitby, originally wanted permission to stay open until 5am.
However, following intervention and a “negotiation” with North Yorkshire Police, the chain amended its proposal for opening hours from 11.30am to 2am.
The site at 76-79 Baxtergate, Whitby was until recently occupied by a Wendy’s, which announced its departure from the town centre location amid a relocation to a drive-thru “in the nearby area”.
If the premises licence is approved, the sale of alcohol for consumption on and off the premises would be allowed from 11.30am to midnight, from Monday to Sunday, as would the playing of recorded music.
Late night refreshments could also be served from 11pm to 2am.
One member of the public has objected to the licensing application, which is set to be decided at a meeting on Wednesday, June 17.
The neighbouring resident said that “allowing the takeaway sale of alcohol in an area that already has an increasing problem with antisocial behaviour is something the local area of Whitby does not need as this will just aggravate the problem”.
The objector also raised concerns about an inadequate provision of food waste disposal around the property, which they said had previously been left in an “unsanitary state”, leading to an “increasing problem with vermin in the yard behind the former Shoe Zone and in the local area with rats being sighted running up Golden Lion Bank and Baxtergate”.
A report by council officers stated that “no previous complaints have been recorded in respect of 78 Baxtergate, Whitby”.
The council’s licensing sub-committee can approve the application, grant the licence with additional conditions or amendments, or reject the application partially or in full.
