Agenda item

a. APPLICATION AND REPRESENTATIONS SUBMITTED. To consider the attached report

b. DETERMINATION OF THE APPLICATION FOR THE VARIATION OF A PREMISES LICENCE- Wine Shop

c. ANNOUNCEMENT OF THE DECISION FOR THE VARIATION OF A PREMISES LICENCE- Wine Shop

The Panel considered an application to vary the Premises Licence at Wine Shop, 27 Whitegate Drive, Blackpool.  The application had initially requested permission to sell alcohol for consumption off the premises between the hours of 08.00 and 03.00 hours but following discussions with the Police the applicant had amended the application to reduce the hours to between 08.00 and 0.00 hours daily.

The Panel noted that the premises was located in the Cumulative Impact Area and as such a rebuttable presumption existed unless the applicant could demonstrate that the application would not add to the cumulative impact already existing in the area.

Mr Jordan spoke in support of the application on behalf of the applicant.  He explained that the application for extended hours had been submitted following the Post Office requesting the applicant to extend delivery of its services.  The applicant considered that this would only be viable if the premises licence was amended to permit the sale of alcohol during the extended hours of service.  Mr Jordan advised Members that there had been no issues raised regarding the operation of the premises to date and advised Members of the safety measures already in place at the premises which included staff training, Challenge 25 policy and the installation of CCTV.  He highlighted that no responsible authorities had made representations relating to the application and in his view the extended hours would not add to the cumulative impact in the area.

The Panel noted that additional information had been submitted by one of the objectors to the application in the form of a letter from Councillor Blackburn which supported the objections to the application.  It also noted Mr Jordan’s concerns regarding the acceptance of the letter as a supporting document.

Responding to questions from the Panel, the applicant, Mr Pallikulangara assured the Panel that the premises did not offer discounted alcohol sales and that alcohol was only a small portion of the overall sales.

Members of the public spoke in objection to the application.  The main concerns raised related to the potential for an increase in the existing alcohol related problems in the area and the impact that this would have on nearby residents. 

The Panel considered the representations made by all parties both in writing and at the meeting.  Members accepted that there was no evidence of any issues being raised regarding the operation of the premises currently but expressed concerns at the impact that the extended licensing hours could have on vulnerable people and nearby residents. 

The Panel was not satisfied that the application if granted would not add to the public nuisance already being experienced in the area.

Resolved:  That the application to vary the Premises Licence at Wine Shop, 27 Whitegate Drive, be refused.