Alcohol licence granted for community pavilion

The application for the timber-framed hall on the Joan Adams Community Field in Llanfair Waterdine was objected to by 11 members of the public, who said previous events on the field had caused significant disturbance to the community.

But trustee Andrew Beavan told a Shropshire Council licensing sub-committee hearing last month, that these issues would not be repeated now that the hall had been built.

The trustees said an alcohol licence would allow the venue to host a range of activities to the benefit of the rural community, which lies on the Welsh border near Knighton.

The panel has now issued its decision to approve the premises licence application subject to a series of conditions to ensure it is managed safely and effectively.

Three objectors attended the hearing, telling the panel they were concerned about noise, road safety, potential competition with the Everest Hall, and the trustees’ ability to manage an alcohol licence.

However there were no objections from environmental health, trading standards or the police.

The panel concluded it was satisfied that the four licensing objectives – public safety, prevention of public nuisance, protection of children from harm and prevention of crime and disorder – would be met.

A report from the panel, made up of councillors Keith Roberts, Roy Aldcroft and Simon Jones, said: “The sub-committee were mindful of the objectors’ concerns in relation to noise nuisance being caused by the premises, however, they were satisfied that the previous nuisance had been caused prior to the pavilion being built and that the field was not being considered as part of the application.

“The sub-committee were concerned that the applicant did not have any previous experience running a premises of this nature, that based on their application and responses at the hearing, they did not have a clear idea of what the premises would be used for and they had no policies and procedure for use of the premises currently drafted save for an example hire agreement.

“The sub-committee were therefore not satisfied that the applicant would manage the premises sufficiently to promote the licensing objectives.”

“Having regard to the statutory guidance in respect to public nuisance, the sub-committee is satisfied that the addition of conditions would be an appropriate and proportionate response to address the concerns of the sub-committee and the objectors and to promote the licensing objectives.

“The additional conditions would assist the applicant in producing a robust hire agreement.”

The conditions include closing at 11pm and a trustee being on-site from 7pm onwards when alcohol is being sold, before which they must be contactable by phone to attend if needed.

The panel also said at least one trustee should hold a personal licence, and all trustees should undertake regular fire evacuation and first aid training.

Drinks must not be taken out onto the community field and signs must be put up inside the hall to inform people of this.