CLEVEDON families are looking forward to some peaceful and quiet after the owner of a burger van was told to vacate his site.

CLEVEDON families are looking forward to some peaceful and quiet after the owner of a burger van was told to vacate his site.

Sukru Temel was refused street trading consent to carry on selling hot food and refreshments from his Golden Bar burger van in Strode Road lay-by by North Somerset Council's planning and regulatory licensing subcommittee on Thursday.

For seven years, Mr Temel's van has been parked just 100 metres away from nearby properties and a number of residents say they have increasingly complained about his business due to litter and the noise of drunken customers shouting abuse at each other which continues into the early hours, sometimes as late as 5am.

Speaking at the subcommittee meeting, chairman Cllr Andy Cole said: "We have decided to refuse the application due to concerns over the loss of amenity to neighbouring residential properties."

Members noted that Mr Temel had previous consent to trade until April this year, but said he had to move on after that.

Joy Warren, of Braikenridge Close, who lives just metres away from the van, said: "The noise is just horrendous, especially in the summer. There are boy racers racing up and down and people throwing litter and shouting obscenities at each other.

"There are also no toilet facilities for customers or owners. It's very frustrating to have your peace and quiet disturbed and knowing there are probably customers and employees using bushes as toilet facilities."

Mr Temel applied to open from 4pm-12midnight from Sunday-Thursday, until 2am on Friday and 3am on Saturday.

At a previous hearing, Mr Temel was told to look at alternative sites to his business, before a decision was made, but speaking at the subcommittee he admitted he had not looked into it.

Speaking on Mr Temel's behalf, Umit Kurku said that moving the van would affect his livelihood as he had built up a large customer base at the site.

Commenting on the decision, Mr Temel said: "I am upset. It's my livelihood. I'm going to challenge the decision. We will look for an alternative site, but it's not over."

While Mr Temel planned his next step in the fight, residents celebrated the decision.

Paul Feely, of Braikenridge Close, said: "It's fair for the residents. After seven years we are pleased we can get some peace and quiet.