A CANCER sufferer has urged councillors to turn down a restaurant’s bid to stay open until 3am after claiming the business already has issues with anti-social behaviour.

Southend Council’s licensing sub-committee met on Friday to hear an application from African Taste, in London Road, Westcliff, to serve alcohol and play music until 3am every day of the week.

The committee heard the family-run business, owned by Fredrick Engmann, hopes to cater for people working unsociable hours and to hold parties, but a sick neighbour claimed it would have a huge impact on them.

Mr Engmann’s agent said although the application was for every day, this would not happen because it would cause “massive” complaints from neighbours.

A relative of the objector appeared at the hearing on her behalf and said: “During opening hours of the restaurant there is heavy noise. Bass travels through the building and it can be heard in every room of her flat when music is playing.

“Unfortunately it’s very loud in her bedroom.

“Recently she’s been diagnosed with cancer so she requires peace and quiet. She’s been very tolerant over the years of what’s happened so far.

“Although there has been anti-social behaviour, she realises this will naturally gravitate to somewhere that has the sale of alcohol.”

He added: “What she doesn’t want is this anti-social behaviour to get any worse now she is in the condition she’s in. On some nights, the next day in the yard there is a smell of urine. We’ve had human faeces and vomit and broken glass. It’s not nice. It doesn’t happen all the time but the potential for this to get worse with a later licences is greater.”

Paul Pearce, environmental health officer for Southend Council, said: “My opinion as the responsible authority for environmental protection, should the application be granted with these hours, with the information I’ve received it will result in a public nuisance.

“As we’ve heard today, if the licence applied for is used fully it would lead to massive complaints. We would also like to avoid environmental protection having to call the applicant back for a review of the premises licence.

“I’m concerned it would risk damaging public health.”

The outcome of the hearing will be announced this week.