To consider an application for a grant of a premise licence in respect of Ross on Wye Rugby Club, Abbotts Close, Greytree, Ross-on-Wye. HR9 7GQ.

Members of the licensing sub committee from the council’s planning and regulatory committee considered the above application, full details of which appeared before the Members in their agenda and the supplement which had been published on 29 November 2019.           

Prior to making their decision, the members heard from the principal licensing officer.

As notices of intention had not been received from all the public representations, the sub committee were asked to decide whether those who had made a relevant representation and were present at the meeting could speak. It was decided that all the public representations could speak in connection with their representation. 

The five members of the public who had made accepted relevant representations spoke and the following points were noted:

·         They were not necessarily against a licence being granted but it was the issue of a licence for the carrying out of licensable activities outdoors that was their concern arising from their experiences in relation to Olliefest which was a separate premises licence run from the rugby club grounds.    At Olliefest, there had been signs that the event was being controlled internally, however, when under 16s were being rejected, they were in the road drinking, being anti-social, and the paraphilia left behind was a danger to children.  

·         At the Olliefest event, the noise level was excessive and there was constant drumming and a bass beat from 1000 hrs until late at night with a firework display at the end.   

·         There was a concern that if the rugby club were granted a premises licence, that there would be outdoor music and events in the future which would cause disturbance to the residents

·         It was noted that Olliefest and the road safety concerns were not a matter for this sub-committee who could only look at the application for a premises licence for Ross on Wye Rugby Club.

·         Irrespective of where the responsibility sat, the events were held on the rugby pitch and the residents had to deal with the blind bend in the road and the noise from the events.

·         There were historical issues in relation to the relationship with the rugby club with residents.   One member of the public commented that in a pub environment, they did not appreciate being asked “How’s your house?” when there were issues with the lighting at the club illuminating his property.   The same resident was also told that they should go away for the three days of Olliefest.

·         One member of the public commented that after Olliefest there had been an event on the rugby pitches which had amplifiers playing music.   It was understand that this was a private birthday party. 

·         There was concern as to why the rugby club required a premises licence for seven days a week before 1000hrs and 2300hrs as during the day they had children coming to the club. 

·         The rugby club were blasé in their attitude to residents and the example of there only being parking for 25 vehicles and no provision for HGV parking was permitted by the planning permission for the clubhouse and it was understood that visiting clubs would park at free car park at Homs Road.  However, this did not happen and HGV/buses parked at the premises.

·         The club had the facility to fund raise at the Drop Inn in Ross on Wye.  

·         There was the potential for anti-social behaviour and for drink driving as the rugby club was out of town.

·         One public representation expressed their concern for their child who had ADHD and the noise would cause stimulation overload which in turn would mean that they could not make sense of their surroundings and this would have a detrimental effect on the health and wellbeing of the child and the family. 

·         When leaving the premises after events, it had been witnessed that people would use residents’ hedges for urinals. 

·         Class A drugs had also been found.  

·         The road was narrow and visitors to the rugby club parked in the street which meant that if there was a need for an ambulance, they would not be able to get through.

Following queries from the sub-committee, the members of the public confirmed that they would be happy if there were a limit to the number of days and hours that the club could sell alcohol and that it should not be sold for consumption off site. 

It was further noted that the residents’ association had made representations to the rugby club to voice their concerns but that no complaints had been made to the council or the police. 

The sub-committee then heard from the applicant who:

·         Expressed sympathy for the residents but noted that Olliefest was not run by the rugby club. 

·         The club wanted a licence to sell beer after matches and training sessions. 

·         The club were willing to reduce the hours and days requested as when the form was being completed they had ticked every box.

·         Beer would only be sold in cans and there were no plans to install alcohol pumps.

It was agreed that the sub-committee would adjourn for 20 minutes in order to allow the residents and the rugby club to talk to see if there was an opportunity to come to an agreement over hours and days. 

When the sub-committee was re-convened, the principal licensing officer reported that the rugby club had agreed to amend the application for a licence as follows:

Alcohol to be sold on the premises only

Live and recorded music to be played indoors only

Licensable hours to be:

Tuesday and Thursday – 1800 hrs to 2200 hrs

Saturday – 1400 hrs until 2300 hrs

Sunday – 1000 hrs to 1800 hrs.

Boxing Day – 1100 hrs to 1800 hrs

A condition to be placed on the licence that a member of the club will liaise with the residents association to inform of them of any up and coming events.

DECISION

The decision of the licensing sub committee was to grant the licence modified as follows:

Alcohol to be sold on the premises only

Live and recorded music to be played indoors only

Licensable hours to be:

Tuesday and Thursday – 1800 hrs to 2200 hrs

Saturday – 1400 hrs until 2300 hrs

Sunday – 1000 hrs to 1800 hrs.

Boxing Day – 1100 hrs to 1800 hrs

A condition to be placed on the licence that a member of the club will liaise with the residents association to inform of them of any up and coming events no less than 28 days prior to the event. 

REASONS

The sub-committee had taken into account all of the representations in the papers presented to them and from members of the public who had made representations.  It was noted that a number of the representations related to a separate licensable event which was held on the same site and was not run by the applicant.  The sub-committee had also noted that following a discussion between the residents and the applicant, there was an agreement to reduce the days and hours requested in the application and that the applicant had agreed to an additional condition on the licence which meant that the rugby club would liaise with the residents associations to let them know of upcoming events.   As the revised licensable hours would better promote the four licensing objectives, in particular the prevention of crime and disorder and noise nuisance, the sub-committee agreed to grant the licence based on the revised days / hours and additional condition offered.