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A Caerphilly takeaway owner’s plans to open later at night faces stiff resistance over concerns it will lead to disruption for nearby residents.

Awais Ahmad, who runs Philly Grill on the town’s Cardiff Road, hopes to extend his closing time to 2am daily, from the current 11pm.

He told Caerphilly County Borough Council’s licensing committee that some other takeaways on the street operated until similar times, and added his business was also opposite a pub.

But council environmental health officer Victoria Woodland said her department had “no confidence” the later opening hours were compatible with a licensing objective that promotes “the prevention of public nuisance”.

She said 11pm onwards is “when people are trying to sleep” and said the extraction equipment at the rear of the premises could prove to be a noise nuisance for people living nearby.

Ms Woodland accepted Philly Grill was in a “late-night zone” in the town centre but said each application had to be judged independently.

She added concerns that if later opening hours were granted, delivery drivers or customers arriving by car could arrive at the premises via no-through road in Stockland Street.

Mr Ahmad said Philly Grill would carry out litter sweeps and stop playing music after 11pm if his application was approved.

The front door of the business would also be kept closed after 11pm – except to allow customers to enter and exit – and a staff member would ensure people left quietly at closing time, he added.

Council licensing manager Lee Morgan asked Ms Woodland whether those measures would alleviate her department’s concerns with the application.

“No, these would not address any of my concerns,” she replied. “My concerns relate to noise from the extraction equipment… and relate to things associated with the provision of late-night refreshment, people coming in their cars to pick up their orders, [and] delivery drivers.”

Ms Woodland also said the applicant had made “no consultation” with environmental health ahead of the committee meeting – something she said could have “ironed out” those matters.

On the issues of potential disruption for neighbours, Mr Ahmad said he had displayed a notice of his application for 28 days, and no public objections had been raised.

He also said there was less traffic on Cardiff Road late at night, and he suggested any customers arriving by car would likely park there rather than taking a more indirect route to Stockland Street.

The committee also heard the premises at 51 Cardiff Road does not currently have planning permission to open on Sundays – owing to a decision made in 2020.

Mr Ahmad, who bought the premises in January 2025 and opened Philly Grill in May, said that if the licence was granted, he would apply for amended planning permission.

The committee will publish its decision within five working days.