A RESTAURANT owner’s controversial bid to stay open until 2am has been rejected after more than 100 neighbours slammed the plans.

Redbridge Council’s licensing committee quashed Cem Alkan’s hopes of keeping his new Turkish restaurant Lokkum open until the early hours at a town hall meeting yesterday (June 21).

The scars left by the site’s colourful past as the Napier Arms pub, and notorious night spot Funky Mojoe nearby, left South Woodford residents extremely suspicious of the 31-year-old’s plans.

A total of 104 neighbours made official objections, backed by Chingford and Woodford Green MP Iain Duncan Smith and Conservative ward councillors Emma Best and Tom McLaren.

Despite Mr Alkan’s reassurances Lokkum is a restaurant not a bar and noise would be kept to a minimum, licensing officers decided to keep closing times restricted to 11.30pm during the week, 11pm on Sundays, and midnight at weekends.

Cllr Best said: “The application was rejected because it was inappropriate for the location and an establishment in its infancy.”

She added Mr Alkan should build trust with the community before he puts in a second licence extension bid, to ensure “happy residents and thriving businesses”.

Mr Alkan has been contacted for comment.