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A popular Cantonese restaurant that has been serving customers for 32 years is at risk of closure because of allegations of noise and odour.

The Summer Palace restaurant on Llandaff High street, Cardiff, is appearing in the Cardiff Magistrates' Court next week facing prosecution for environmental health offences.

It's understood that the charges being brought by Cardiff council are under section 80 of the Environmental Prosecution Act 1990, which allows for a business to be fined if it fails to comply with an abatement notice.

The family-run business has been open since 1988.

(Image: WalesOnline/Rob Browne)

Business owners and residents in the area have been providing letters of support to the family behind the restaurant as well as setting up a petition which has already received hundreds of signatures in its first day.

Locals say the community would be "devastated" if the restaurant were to close.

(Image: WalesOnline/Rob Browne)

Sarah Thomas who owns Garland florist on the High Street, and is a local resident said the community should stick together given the recent decline of UK high streets.

"We do need to stand together and hold on to what's there. Three businesses have gone in the last three months from the high street, two restaurants and a hairdressers," she said.

"Economically it’s stressful enough keeping businesses going without something like this happening driving you out of business."

"They’ve been there for years. We’ve enjoyed their trade, they’ve enjoyed ours - they’re part of the balance of the community. They’ve been there for so long it’s essential."

(Image: Ffion Lewis)

Like Summer Palace, Peter Hall - owner of Halls Card shop- has been trading in the street for decades.

"We’ve been here for 40 years and when we found out Summer Palace had been in business for 32 years I just couldn’t believe it," he said.

(Image: Ffion Lewis)

Peter says that losing the restaurant would only add to the number of empty lots along the street.

"It’s our community more than anything. We’ve got 16 outlets in this street and about five are empty at the moment," he said.

"Retail is having a tough tough time, it’s no joke - it is as bad as they say on the news. Everyone's turning to the internet and out-of-town malls. I don't blame them but we are losing this community spirit."

A worker at Llandaff institute, Marian Tylk, said the possible closure is emotional for the community.

"It would be devastating, absolutely devastating. It would be a real shame, I’m getting quite upset about it, they’re a family too - it’s awful," she said.

"They’re a family run business, they’ll come in here and have a drink we all help eachother. It’s just so important, We all rely on each other.

(Image: WalesOnline/Rob Browne)

"The village is dying. What’s happening with the Chinese is heartbreaking, devastating. Even if you go past there now at lunch time you can see how busy it is, everyone loves it."