A hearing is scheduled after Environmental Health objected to a takeaway’s plans to open until 5am.

Papa Johns, in St Albans Road, Watford, initially sought licensing permission to provide late-night refreshment from 11pm until 5am.

However, according to the Watford Borough Council licensing sub committee report, this was amended down to 11pm to 2pm during the consultation period “following discussions with the police”.

It would close to the public after 1am but continue to operate as an online delivery service afterwards.

Recommending refusal during the consultation period, working on the basis of the 5am time, Environmental Health highlighted the number of residential properties in the area including directly above the business.

The officer who wrote the representation said they are concerned that allowing deliveries and collection past 11pm is likely to generate noise impacting residents and potentially “lead to a public nuisance”.

Watford Observer: The other Watford Papa Johns location, in Market Street.The other Watford Papa Johns location, in Market Street. (Image: Google Street View)

They acknowledged Papa Johns was given “some flexibility” when a similar application went in for its Market Street location, but reinforced the “substantially different neighbourhood characteristic”.

Provided the representations are not removed in response to the timing amendment during consultation, the licensing sub committee will make a decision following a hearing next Friday (January 19).