Update September 2008
Roger
Mortimer
A fairly quiet year on the Licensing front,
with recently more premises closing than opening! However, as
premises compete for trade in competitive times we can expect
some pressure on the conditions of Premises Licenses, for
example opening hours.
In view of recent reports by police and
hospitals of increased late night alcohol related problems we
hope the Licensing Committee will take a firm line. We also hope
that extended ‘happy hours’ and other cost based promotions
will be strongly discouraged, though this needs Government
action. The more alcohol sold and the later the hours the more
nearby residents suffer the downside of noise and ASB.
Recently Jersey Lily and Highbury Vaults
obtained slightly longer hours but tougher conditions on use of
outdoor areas were imposed following representations by
residents and RCAS.
The Licensing Committee recognises that
smokers outside pubs and bars are a potential noise problem.
However as smoking is not (yet!) a ‘licensable activity’ this
cannot be controlled like alcohol sales.
The Police are currently seeking more
Cumulative Impact Zones, like ‘The Strip, Whiteladies Rd, where
a CIZ has been in place since 2005, having been proposed by RCAS
and supported by the police. This has made it somewhat easier to
resist new bars etc and longer trading hours. One of the CIZ now
proposed covers Cheltenham Road / part Gloucester Rd, on our
borders, so we will be supporting this initiative of the
police..
We remind members to keep an eye on notices
on premises. As long as we know that residents are also
objecting RCAS will continue to study and object to
applications. In doing this it is very helpful that Bob
Chambers, representing St.John’s Road Residents Association
takes similar action over applications in Whiteladies Road.
Report September 2006 Roger
Mortimer and Chris Lewis
There have been further applications in our area this year to
increase licensing hours, open new licensed premises, or otherwise
increase the sale of alcohol. Applications since the new regime
started in February 2005 total more than 20 - and still they
come. We have objected to nearly all and with Bob Chambers of
St.John's Road Residents Association have attended Committee
Hearings to argue against licences that are likely to increase
public nuisance.
We have seen some of the more extreme requests refused, and some
restrictions placed on, for example, the hours of use of outdoor
drinking areas. Overall, most premises have got an extra hour till
midnight, collectively cutting into residents sleep hours.
However, there seems no doubt that without the Cumulative Impact
Area (CIA) status that we got written into Bristol's Policy many
premises would have been granted 1am or later. So some modest
success can be claimed.
Two new premises have been allowed in the CIA, because they
'introduce variety of facility' into the CIA, in the view of the
Council. One is the former Amusement Arcade at 50 Whiteladies Rd,
where a license was granted because the Committee agreed that there
was a 'lack of restaurants where children were welcome', alcohol
would only be served with meals and it will close at 11pm. The other
is a licence to FOPP, the book and music store, to serve alcohol and
have live music 'ancilliary to the main business' .
Continued and repeated applications to steal a march on competitors
seems likely to continue and the onset of smoking bans will put a
premium on outdoor drinking areas in The Strip and
elsewhere. Unfortunately residents now seem reluctant to even write
a letter of objection let alone attend Hearings or report/
record public nuisance. In view of this RCAS are now reluctant to
attend Hearings. This is a frustrating task with erratic results,
not helped by the refusal of Bristol Licensing Department to supply
copies of relevant documents presented to the Hearings. This, and
other restrictive actions apparently carried out on the instructions
of Council legal officers is now subject of a complaint to the
Ombudsman, as is the failure to issue Notices of Decision on cases
heard more than a year ago.
All earlier Licensing reports have now been archived and are
available from the Downloads page.
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