RESIDENTS in an area riddled with takeaways have vowed to fight a trader's decision to stay open until 2am every day.

Shazad Yaqoob has approached the city council with proposals to serve food at his business Chilli Jacks, in Meir, for longer each day.

But people in Meir say they already have too many takeaways, and fear extended opening hours at the establishment will cause traffic problems. More than 100 of them have now signed a petition opposing the move.

Mr Yaqoob said he had opened later on the advice of the authority: "The council told me if there was a problem with me opening late they would get back to me.

"They haven't done that, so what I'm doing can't be so bad, and I've been closing at about 1.30am for the past few nights.

"My business is on a traffic island and nowhere near houses, so it is causing no disturbance or parking problems for local people."

However, the longer opening hours have triggered the petition, set up by Brian Jones, chairman of Wood Farm Residents' Association.

He told The Sentinel: "We have got about 18 takeaways in Meir and now this one wants to stay open until 2am. Haven't we got enough?

"There is nowhere for people to stop when they go to the takeaway, and they already park on double yellow lines, so things will only get worse.

"We've also got a rat problem in the area, so I can't see more takeaway rubbish will make things better."

He added: "We don't need takeaways in Meir, we need decent shops, but we are getting taken over. To extend the hours of a takeaway which will be right next to the health centre is just ridiculous."

The Sentinel has previously reported how parts of Meir are littered with takeaways.

In November, a survey revealed 69 per cent of households in the Weston and Meir North ward are within 500 metres of a fast-food outlet.

The same report showed 75 per cent of those surveyed do not reach recommended levels of physical activity, and 69 per cent do not eat five portions of fruit and vegetables a day.

Chilli Jacks, in Uttoxeter Road, serves curry dishes, pizzas and other hot food.

Resident Hilda Healy has lived in Meir since 1971. The 63-year-old retired pottery worker, of Goodwin Road, said: "Meir is like one big takeaway at the moment.

"If the council wants to stop obesity, it has got to put a stop to all this opening late."

She added: "I don't understand why these places don't open in the day if they are that desperate for more business.

"It seems they are all asking to stay open later and later."