A KEBAB house in Okehampton has been refused extended opening hours at the weekend because of the potential noise and disruption it would cause, despite support from the police.
Dillan Kebab House of West Street, Okehampton, had applied to West Devon Borough Council to open until 2am at weekends.
This was in order to increase business from people leaving Nero's Nightclub and from late night buses travelling back from Exeter.
At present these customers are served from a van parked in the main street which is not covered by planning restrictions.
The applicants said that additional late-night food facilities would meet a demand and provide greater choice for people using the town centre.
They said it might also reduce queuing at the mobile operator and assist in dispersing people more quickly.
No objections were received to the proposal, only petitions of support which contained more than 500 signatures.
Okehampton Town Council and the police were willing to consider a six-month trial period.
Officers felt it would encourage people to leave the nightclub early and reduce numbers of people on the street.
But the council's environmental health officer said late-night opening had occurred in the past at Dillan Kebab House and other premises and it had led to more people staying on later in the town with a consequent increase in noise and unsociable behaviour.
An identical application to this was refused in January 1999 and again in February 2001.
The planning committee felt that a grant of consent at Dillan's was likely to lead to other similar venues wanting to stay open. It was felt this could lead to rowdy behaviour.