Councillor tries again for late kebabs (From Oxford Mail)

Councillor tries again for late kebabs

2:00pm Saturday 17th March 2012 in Oxford

A CITY councillor is bidding to open his Oxford kebab restaurant until the early hours, five months after being turned down over disorder fears.

Cowley Marsh councillor Saj Malik wants to open Bodrum in Park End Street until 3am.

The authority rejected a bid to open to 4am in October and gave permission for 1am instead.

Police said they feared the takeaway – formerly the Eamayl Chinese restaurant – would not encourage revellers to disperse, fuelling violence.

But Mr Malik, a Labour member for East Oxford, said: “We don’t get any disorder. We want to contribute to the night time economy.”

Thames Valley Police said one crime had been recorded at the premises since it opened in October – a 26-year-old man given a fixed penalty notice for being abusive to staff on December 23.

Mr Malik said customers would not be allowed in after 2.45am, cutting off many revellers.

Door staff would be kept on until 3.30pm.

Nearby Thirst nightclub closes at 3am Thursday to Saturday and has applied to be allowed to open to 2.30am instead of 2am from Sundays to Wednesdays.

The city council will make a final decision on both plans.