Licence issues for town venue

A licence application to sell alcohol and host live music at a Spalding venue has met with objections.

The Sessions House has been using temporary event permissions up until now, but one neighbour claims noise from the venue is affecting her health.

The application is due to be discussed by members of South Holland’s licencing committee next week.

“My home is probably the closest to the function room and the noise from their functions affects my health,” says a neighbour.

“I have bad headaches through a lack of sleep and people shouting and yelling from the premises,” she adds.

A neighbouring company, Salway and Wright, had no objections to a licence being granted but is ‘a little concerned’ about the hours.

“I think a start time of midday is more suited to the area, as I cannot see the need to start serving alcohol at 10am on any day,” says a letter.

The application, by owners Oliver and Dorota Sneath, would allow music outside until 11pm and for alcohol to be served from 10am to midnight Monday to Thursday and 12.30am on Friday and Saturday.

But Lincolnshire Police initially said while the conditions offered by the applicants were ‘well meaning,’ they fell short and were inadequate.

The conditions “do not address the risk posed and therefore do not fully promote the licencing objectives,” says the report.

The owners have agreed with a raft of specified conditions outlined by police after consultation.

These include staff training on sale of alcohol, drugs awareness and underage sales prevention.

A written drugs policy, CCTV system with at least one high-resolution camera in weatherproof housing outside should also be provided.

There should also be a risk assessment for all events and functions with consideration for a ‘minimum of two door staff’ along with plastic or polycarbonate ‘drinking vessels’.

The application will be discussed on Tuesday morning.