A Kent high street could become the centre of a “24-hour city” as calls grow for more nightspots to open round the clock.

Councillors in Canterbury will next week decide if Greggs can operate the county’s first all-night bakery at the top of St George’s Street, complete with security.

And yet while some fear the move could exacerbate drunken anti-social behaviour, others have urged council chiefs to further open up Canterbury’s nighttime economy to help boost trade.

Resident Amanda Skinner, 44, told KentOnline: “I think it would be great if Canterbury became a bit more of a 24-hour city and businesses were open later.

“They’d make more money and it’s all about their percentages right now.

“Greggs specifically being open 24 hours is a good idea, as long as you don’t get idiots who ruin it.

“But I suppose you can’t stop that as idiots are everywhere. It would also be good for the homeless to have more places open 24 hours.”

Police have no objection to Greggs’ application as long as the firm operates as a takeaway, and employs two security guards between 11pm and 5am.

The force has also stated the firm must install external CCTV and ensure outside tables and chairs are put away overnight.

One councillor says that despite her reservations regarding potential antisocial behaviour and litter, she believes growth in Canterbury’s nightlife could benefit the city.

Labour’s Mel Dawkins said: “I’m certainly happy to have more nightlife economy and, of course, McDonald’s is already 24-hour.

“I do have concerns about enforcement and people’s safety at that time as there are issues with antisocial behaviour in the area, so if it’s going to happen we’ve got to have a balance and make sure that police are about.

“If we had more of a late-night city it would balance itself out but if you’ve got just one place, like we do at the moment, it’s just going to create crowds.

“With McDonald’s already open 24 hours the change is already happening, but I understand it is going to concern some people that there will be crowds congregating in that area once all the pubs are shut.”

She continued: “There’s currently not many places to go overnight in Canterbury and the night economy is quite small so there would be economic benefit.

“There is also a domino effect where the more places open late the less you will have everyone leaving at the same time.”

Passersby in St George’s Street yesterday told our reporter they hope a positive outcome for the Greggs application will spark an increase in late-night options.

Simon Chittim, 35, said: “There is quite good nightlife in Canterbury already with all the pubs and stuff, but a bit more to cater for the students – as they’ll make up the majority of the punters – would be good.

“Being a student city, Canterbury is going to be 24 hours with people always around the centre.

“So I don’t have a problem with Greggs being open round-the-clock - I think it is actually probably quite a good idea.”

Cara Stephens, 27, added: “It would help the town be a bit more lively if places stayed open later. It would also make it a bit less rowdy down there if more venues were open later and people didn’t feel like they had to come to McDonald’s or Greggs because their night is over.”

As it stands, Greggs’ drive-thru in Sittingbourne has the latest closing time in the county at 10pm.

But attempts to transition into a 24-hour model have previously been mooted by the firm, with several media outlets reporting in March the food giant wanted to make the change to some of its drive-thrus.

Greggs also previously tried to bring in a 24-hour service at its Leicester Square store last year - but council bosses snubbed the bid.

At the time Aicha Less, Westminster City Council’s cabinet member for licensing and communities, said “legitimate concerns have been raised by the police and local people that these plans are half-baked”.

“There are worries that businesses serving 24/7 in the city centre creates challenges and that the bakery could become a hot spot for late-night disturbances and anti-social behaviour,” she added.

It prompted a legal battle between the two, with Greggs vowing to install security cameras and bouncers in order to get the go-ahead.

The city council’s licensing sub-committee is meeting on Wednesday (August 16) to discuss the application.