A club in Newport Pagnell has been granted a new alcohol licence after the operators and some of their neighbours hammered out a compromise deal live on YouTube.
Ousebank House, in Ousebank Street, has until now been licensed as a members-only Royal British Legion Club, but the new operators applied to Milton Keynes Council to convert it into a pub-style licence.
Four neighbours objected because of fears over noise nuisance and anti-social behaviour.
The council’s elected licensing sub-committee was called in to decide outstanding issues at a virtual meeting broadcast on YouTube on Monday (October 19).
Neighbour Jo Marsh told the hearing that noise had not been controlled under the existing licence.
“The licence must be adhered to,” she said.
“They could be having a disco up until midnight on most days. That would be unacceptable.”
She called for a background level of noise only, and James Campbell, who has been the club steward for six years, agreed, saying they did not want discos during the working week.
He told the committee that the Royal British Legion had decided to “separate themselves from Ousebank House” but local people want to continue running the building for the community.
Another sticking point was over the opening of a rear fire door by customers who went outside to smoke and drink.
Mrs Marsh said: “That had a subsequent effect on us because we then had to close our doors and windows because of the noise and smoke.
“By cooling the Ousebank House area unfortunately we then get the untenable situation of having to be in a very hot house because we can’t open our windows and doors.”
She called for a compromise where the door would be closed at 10pm and only open during the very warm weather.
There were also objections to plans to sell alcohol as “off sales” which sparked fears of people drinking outside.
But Mr Campbell said he only wanted to sell alcohol to people who would take it outside to use on a bench outside the front.
He said: “We look forward to being a benefit to the town, not only alcohol but the whole benefit.”
The committee heard that the building could be used to host coffee mornings.
Announcing the sub-committee’s ruling, chairman Cllr Mick Legg (Lab, Bletchley West) said he was impressed by the “calmness” of proceedings.
“Sometimes it can get a bit fraught and a bit angry so I am pleased it did not get to that stage,” he said.
Some 21 conditions have already been agreed but the sub-committee of three councillors decided to slap on some more, including that off-sales had to be restricted to people sitting at benches outside the front.
Cllr Legg said a further condition could be imposed on when the rear door could be opened but the committee first needs to seek specialist advice.
“The hope is we can do it by consensus and agree a sensible mode of operation,” he concluded.
© MKFM News 2020
