PLANNERS last night voted to allow a new restaurant in the town centre – despite fears it will lead to increased crime.

Councillors voted seven to six for the food outlet at 14 Cross Church Street, against the advice of officers.

Mohammed Akram, of Syringa Street in Marsh, had asked Kirklees Council for permission to set up the restaurant in the Grade II listed building which has been vacant since electrical store Videotech closed last May.

He requested to be allowed to open the food outlet from 9am until 11.30pm seven days a week.

Sgt Mandy Mellor spoke against the proposal at yesterday’s meeting of the council’s Huddersfield Planning Sub-committee.

She told councillors: “Cross Church Street is already saturated with eateries – there are eight or nine of them.

“It’s the busiest street for recorded violent crime. In January there were eight violent crimes in Cross Church Street. The majority of crime in the town centre takes place in the vicinity of eateries, not public houses.”

Sgt Mellor added she was worried that the restaurant would eventually be allowed to stay open beyond 11.30pm.

“My concern is that the owner will apply to extend the hours,” she said.

Sub-committee member Clr Adrian Murphy spoke against the proposal at yesterday’s meeting at Huddersfield Town Hall.

The Kirkburton Conservative said: “It’s a continual battle on Cross Church Street on weekends. The police have my sympathy.”

Greenhead Labour woman Clr Judith Hughes backed the proposed restaurant.

“I would like to support this application,” she said. “If it was a takeaway, I would refuse permission.”

Fellow Greenhead Labour councillor Mohan Sokhal agreed.

“This restaurant is quite different from a takeaway,” he said. “We need to fill the empty shops and to create some jobs. We should not just look at crime levels.”

Clr Cahal Burke also backed the proposal.

The Lindley Lib Dem told the meeting that alcohol, rather than food, was to blame for the high level of crime on Cross Church Street.

“It’s not the burgers or the kebabs that’s driving them crazy – it’s what they’ve had before,” he said. “If people are intoxicated they want to get some food and go home.”

Councillors then voted on whether to back officers’ recommendation to refuse planning permission.

All five Conservatives on the sub-committee voted against the new restaurant – Clr Murphy, Clr Donna Bellamy of Colne Valley, Clr Ken Sims and Clr Donald Firth both of Holme Valley South and Clr Lisa Holmes of Liversedge and Gomersal. Almondbury Lib Dem Clr Linda Wilkinson also voted against.

All five Labour members voted for the new restaurant: Clr Hughes, Clr Sokhal, Clr Cliff Preest of Dalton, Clr Hilary Richards of Golcar and Clr Steve Hall of Heckmondwike. Clr Burke also backed the development as did Holme Valley North independent Clr Terry Lyons.

Clr Burke then suggested giving the restaurant the go-ahead, but with more limited opening times.

The sub-committee backed the proposal to allow a restaurant on the site, provided it takes last orders at 9pm and closes at 10pm.

Sgt Mellor agreed with the proposal. “I think 9pm would be fine because town doesn’t get busy until after then,” she said.

The application had been brought to the sub-committee at the request of Kirklees leader Clr Mehboob Khan, who had said a new restaurant would not increase crime on Cross Church Street and would create jobs.

The new business will employ 20 full-time and 10 part-time staff.

Police figures show there were 121 offences on Cross Church Street, King Street, Kirkgate and Queen Street between April 1 and July 31, 2011.

These included 36 assaults, 20 thefts from the person, 17 cases of people being drunk and disorderly and two sexual offences.

Police estimate that alcohol was a factor in 44% of the 121 crimes, while drugs were involved in 6% of offences.

Half the crimes took place on the street and 43% occurred in the bars and fast food outlets of the area.