There are
currently twenty three apartments at The Tramshed immediately behind the above referenced
premises. They are occupied by
households of all ages including children.
The building is currently under development to replace the former
restaurant on the ground floor with a furniture store together with a further
eighteen apartments on floors above.
Businesses
operating at this address have previously held licenses as had the restaurant
that preceded the furniture store referred to above. We contend, however, that the hours requested
by the applicant on this occasion which would extend the permitted sale of
alcohol on and off the premises until 2.00 am Monday to Saturday and commencing
at 7.00 am on Sunday are entirely inappropriate in a location of this
sensitivity. Compared with peer cities
Bath has an unusually large proportion of its residents who have chosen to live
in the city centre. The existence of
open drinking areas of the kind apparently proposed by the applicant and the
noise emanating from the entrances and exits of licensed premises are among the
commonest complaints that TARA receives from its members. The applicant has,
moreover, apparently ignored Bath’s Cumulative Impact Policy which requires him
to demonstrate that he is aware of the possible impact of his proposals on the
surrounding area and that they will not adversely affect the city’s Licensing
Objectives. So far as we are aware no
applicant has been granted hours this late since the Cumulative Impact Policy
was introduced in 2007.
We therefor
request in accordance with the council’s Licensing Objectives 3, the Prevention
of Public Nuisance, and 4, the Protection of Children from Harm, that the
application as it stands be REFUSED.
If, however,
the council is minded to approve the application we ask that conditions be
imposed as follows
·
That
alcohol be sold solely in conjunction with menu-based food.
·
That
no food or alcohol be sold for consumption off the premises.
·
That
the sale and consumption of alcohol commence no earlier than 09.00 seven days a
week and cease no later than 23.00 hours Monday to Saturday and 22.00 hours
Sunday.
·
That
the sale and consumption of alcohol and all licensable activities cease in the
rear courtyard at 22.00 hours nightly rather than at 23.00 hours as we
understand has been suggested by the applicant.
·
That
customers enter and leave the premises only by the front (Walcot Street)
entrance and that the rear entrance be used solely as a service entrance, staff
entrance if necessary and fire exit.
·
That
customers are prevented from gathering for drinking and smoking at the rear of
the building.
