A POPULAR kebab van is at the centre of a row involving councillors and neighbours over plans to open the fast-food eatery up to 19 hours a day.

Kings Kebabs, which has been selling burgers and hot dogs on Bagshot Road by the Shell garage and KFC for more than 30 years, is currently allowed to open until 1 am Sunday to Wednesday, 2am on Thursdays and up to 2.30am on Friday and Saturdays.

READ MORE: Massive queues as hungry diners wait for McDonald's re-opening

Owner Mr Zafer Koc wants to keep the same closing times and instead wants to change his daily opening times from 6pm daily to 7am daily — something which has caused a stir amongst locals.

Five objections to the plan were received from highways and environment bosses, two councillors and a local resident over concerns the new trading times would create more congestion, would block the layby and would lead to more noise and litter.

Bracknell News:

Councillor Peter Heydon, ward member for Old Bracknell, wrote: “At present Kings Kebabs is purely a night time/evening operation — and should remain so.

“The residential areas of Glebewood, Rectory Close (including Moon Hill), and Coningsby are too close — they already complain about traffic noise and disturbance.

“I do not understand the need for an 18/19 hour temporary fast-food operation.”

READ MORE: Lidl set for new opening hours

Councillor Chris Turrell, ward member for Harmans Water, backed up Cllr Heydon’s concerns.

Traffic manager Wayne Scott added: “This is a busy location for motorists to stop to refuel and take a break from driving.

“There are also busy business units whose private parking facilities are very likely to be abused by customers of the kebab van.”

Bracknell News:

A resident who lives nearby objected after claiming lorries parking near the van would make the site “extremely dangerous”, and the longer hours would impact “the local business of KFC”.

Environmental protection officer Sophie Needs also outlined her concerns with this proposal, suggesting the extended hours would create more noise pollution and litter issues.

READ MORE: Designs revealed for new restaurant one step closer to opening

But in Mr Koc’s email to Ms Needs, he offered to put up signs to encourage customers to keep noise down and to make sure they put litter in the bins.

Thames Valley Police did not object to the proposal, despite lodging a complaint against van in 2011.

This was one of a string of complaints made against the eatery from 2010 to 2011, which included litter problems, concerns about trading before and after permitted hours and issues with the road safety of the van.

Councillors will meet virtually to judge the proposal at a meeting on Thursday, June 11.