Agenda and draft minutes

Consideration was given to an application (made in accordance with Section 34 of the Licensing Act 2003) by Mr. David Marshall for the variation of the Premises Licence currently in force in respect of The Longbar, Unit 2 Braithwell Road, Ravenfield, Rotherham S65 4LH.

The applicant was seeking:-

-        To extend the latest permitted hours for the sale of alcohol. For consumption on and off the premises, on Sundays from 17:30 hours (5.30 p.m.) to 22:30 hours (10.30 p.m.)

-        Amend condition 18 of Annex 2 of the Premises Licence which currently says:-

“There shall be no outdoor consumption of alcohol.  Alcohol shall only be permitted to be taken off the premises in sealed containers.”

To read as follows:-

“The consumption of alcohol is permitted by customers in the designated seating area and permitted to be taken off the premises in sealed containers.”

The management controls offered in the application, all of which would be made further conditions of Annex 2 of the Premises Licence if the variation was granted, were set out in the report submitted.

Mr. David Marshall (Designed Premises Holder) and Mrs. Marshall were present at the meeting.

Consultation on the application had been carried out in accordance with all statutory requirements and the Council procedure.  During the consultation period 3 representations had been received from “other persons” (2 local residents and Ravenfield Parish Council) all of whom were opposed to the granting of the application.

The 2 residents who had made the representations to the application had been invited to attend the hearing but had not attended.  Mrs. G. Needes, Clerk to Ravenfield Parish Council, was in attendance.

The Panel took into account the issues raised by the local residents which centred around:-

-        The proposed outdoor seating area (already in place) was positioned directly on the pavement and encroached into the adjacent parking area

-        The outdoor seating area created obstruction for pedestrians using the path to access nearby shops and neighbouring premises/shops

-        Serious concerns with regard to full and future compliance with the existing licence conditions

-        Granting of the variation could set a precedent for extended outdoor alcohol use along the parade increasing cumulative noise, littering and anti-social behaviour in the area

Mrs. Needes presented on behalf of Ravenfield Parish Council:-

-        Concern that the allowing of outdoor consumption of alcohol would increase noise and disturbance

-        Servicing alcohol in a confined area where pedestrians must pass directly through patrons presented significant safety risks

-        Children frequently visited neighbouring businesses.  The serving of alcohol in close proximity to these premises may expose children to inappropriate behaviour and/or environments associated with alcohol consumption

-        The Parish Council acknowledged that The Longbar was a community asset with a lot of positive comments, however, the issue was with the outside area and serving of alcohol

-        The image supplied demonstrating a pedestrian with a disability walking through the seating area, believed to demonstrate sufficient space, did not take into account other scenarios such as people  ...  view the full minutes text for item 34.