Presenting the case for Abingdon on Thames Town Council were
Nigel Warner, Town Clark and Karen Webb Guildhall
Supervisor.
Councillor Tony de Vere, district
ward councillor for Abbey and Barton, presented the case for the
residents, who objected to some aspects of the application. He was
accompanied by two residents: Patricia Atkins and John Atkinson.
Councillor Julie Mayhew Archer, district ward councillor for
Abingdon Abbey and Barton, was also in attendance.
The
licensing officer presented her report. She confirmed that the
applicant had accepted the conditions.
Nigel
Warner presented the case for the applicants. He made the following
points.
- The
Guildhall is under used.
- The
current hours are restrictive to the development of the
Guildhall.
- The
Town Council wishes that the Guildhall will move towards a more
self-funded model and require less
subsidy from council tax payers.
- The
Town Council wish to retain the viability of the Guildhall as a
community facility and for it to contribute to the economic
vitality of the town centre.
- Abingdon on Thames Town Council is a responsible organisation
and historically complaints have been very low. The Town Council
tries to reduce noise disturbance by using a noise limiter and
alarming doors to prevent them being left open.
- There
are no concrete plans to develop wrestling and boxing at the
Guildhall: these have been included in the application to provide
flexibility.
- The
Guildhall is responsible in refusing to serve people who have had
too much to drink and the off sales licence is also to provide
flexibility.
- The
designated smoking area is at the bottom of the front
steps.
- There
is no intention of operating the bar as a stand alone facility
outside of functions at the present time.
The
interested parties case was presented by
Councillor Tony de Vere. As part of his case he read statements
from a group of residents from Abbey Close and Checker Walk; Mr
Sayers, a local resident; Dr Halliday a local resident. (Dr
Halliday is a district councillor but his representations were
being made in a personal capacity.) Councillor de Vere and the
residents made the following points:
- The
local residents already suffer from noise pollution late
night/early morning from the Guildhall and other
establishments.
- A lot
of noise is generated from staff throwing bottles in bottle banks
at the end of events.
- Events
at the Guildhall create base noise and vibration.
- Many
of the local homes are listed buildings and cannot install double
glazing to reduce the noise.
- Guests
make noise when they leave the Guildhall.
- Doors
are left open during events.
- Local
residents have suffered nuisance, noise and petty vandalism for up
to an hour after events finish.
- Some
elderly residents are afraid after events at the Guildhall and
other establishments as people come onto the curtilage of their
properties causing a nuisance and knocking on doors.
- There
have been few complaints registered with the district council as
residents had dealt directly with the Guildhall.
Daniel
Smith, the licensing lawyer advising the panel, advised that
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