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To: Licencing Authority, Rushmoor Borough Council

Objection to Premises Licence application for Melford House, Farnborough

Refuse the Premises Licence application reference 17/00512/LAPRE for the guest house known as Melford House in Farnborough.

Why is this important?

Melford House (located in Church Avenue, Farnborough Park, Farnborough) has applied for a Premises Licence summarised as follows (full details can be viewed at http://www.rushmoor.gov.uk/licensedpremisesmap#mapsearch and search for 17-19 Church Avenue):

(i) Provision of 'Live Music': Monday to Sunday (inclusive) 6pm to midnight.
(ii) Provision of 'Recorded Music': Monday to Thursday midday to midnight; and Friday, Saturday and Sunday from midday to 1am.
(iii) Provision of 'Late Night Refreshment': Monday to Sunday (inclusive) 6pm to midnight.
(iv) Supply of Alcohol: Monday to Thursday midday to midnight; and Friday, Saturday and Sunday from midday to 1am.

** UPDATE 18/07/2017** Environmental Health and the applicant have negotiated the following conditions for consideration with this licence application:
"1. All external doors/windows of the entertainment areas must be kept closed, other than during access and egress whilst live amplified music is being played;
2. Live and recorded music will be turned off at 23:00;
3. You are permitted to a maximum of 15 events involving live or recorded music above background level per calendar year;
4. The external entertainment area is to be provided with an air-conditioning - allowing windows and doors to be kept closed;
5. The sound level shall be set at a level jointly agreed with you and Environmental Health Services at Rushmoor Borough Council;
6. Prominent, clear and legible notices shall be displayed at all exits requesting patrons and staff to leave the premises and area quietly;
7. The licence holder or a nominated representative shall carry out a regular noise assessment of the area adjacent to the premises at the boundary of the nearest residential premises. Steps shall be taken to reduce noise from the music at the premises to a level where it does not cause nuisance at the monitoring points;
8. These assessments shall be undertaken at hourly intervals starting from 2200 hrs whilst music is being played. Written records of these assessments and any remedial action taken shall be kept and made available to either the local authority or the Licensing Authority when requested."

**These provisos only deal with noise pollution in a limited manner, and we do not consider that these provisos go far enough to protect local residents from noise pollution and disruption late at night, nor do they address the alcohol related disruption and nuisance that is likely with the issuance of a Premises Licence. Even when the amended hours are taken into consideration, the objections below are valid and still of serious concern to residents of Farnborough Park. **

Melford House is an Edwardian building set on 3 storeys with 2 outbuildings (one being a garage and the other being constructed in 2016/2017 after retrospective planning permission was granted for its specific use as a 'Games Room'). This 'Games Room' is located in the corner garden area of the guest house, approximately 0.9m from the boundary with adjoining properties, and is clearly defined in the applicant's latest proposals as being one of the principle areas in which alcohol will be served, along with the provision of Live Music, Recorded Music and Late Night Refreshments. Notably, this proposed usage was not mentioned in their retrospective planning application for this building, recently submitted in September 2016.

We object to the above Premises Licence application based on the following concerns which impact the four licensing objectives:

1. The location is extremely close to quiet residential housing and is located in the heart of a strictly residential area.
2. A business whose principle hours of business continue until late at night (midnight weekdays and 1am on Friday/Saturday and Sunday) is not compatible with this quiet residential location.
3. Where alcohol is provided for such an extended period, the possibility of inappropriate and anti-social behaviour is increased substantially.
4. Any commercial activity involving increased numbers of people, vehicles, music and provision of alcohol late at night is not appropriate for a residential area and it increases the possibility of becoming a public nuisance and significantly raises the risk of criminal and disorderly behaviour.
5. The applicant has already demonstrated a disregard for the local residents by hosting amplified music events that have gone on until late at night, where people have been outside drinking, smoking and causing noise disturbance. The applicant states that 'closest neighbours will be consulted to ensure ongoing harmony' however this has not been evident in the past and we have no reason to believe that the applicant will consult with its closest neighbours in the future.
6. Even though the applicant states that measures will be taken to minimise noise ("where necessary"), neighbours will still be disturbed by the noise made by guests as they enter/leave either the main building or the 'Games Room', drinking outside in the small garden, particularly given the close proximity (0.9m) of the largest entrance door to the 'Games Room' to the boundary. The property does not have extensive grounds, and it is unrealistic to assume that there will not be a detrimental impact on neighbours given the proposed days and hours of operation, particularly on families with school-age children.
7. The applicant states that people 'bring their own alcohol' already and risks are managed. There is however a substantial difference in a premises providing alcohol for 12 or 13 hours depending on the day (every day), along with the provision of Live Music and Recorded Music, and guests 'bringing their own', with substantially increased risks and disruption to neighbours accordingly.

How it will be delivered

In person to Rushmoor Borough Council, Licensing Authority, before 28 July 2017.

Farnborough

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Updates

2017-09-05 17:04:21 +0100

Unfortunately, Rushmoor Borough Council has ignored the views of the majority of residents in Farnborough Park and granted a premises licence to Mr Hallinan, the owner of Melford House. Anyone who sent in a written representation will receive notification of this in due course. We now need to decide whether we appeal this decision, or closely monitor activities at Melford House and if the licence terms are breached, we look to have the premises licence removed. Please follow the Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/SayNOtoMelfordHousePremisesLicence/ for updates on forthcoming residents meetings.

2017-07-23 16:19:11 +0100

** If you're a Farnborough resident, please make sure you write or email the Licensing Authority at Rushmoor Borough Council as well - this is really important as each letter and email will count as an objection (whereas they may count this petition as one signature, regardless of the fact that hundreds of people have signed it!) Email: [email protected] quoting reference: 17/00512/LAPRE. Follow our campaign on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/SayNOtoMelfordHousePremisesLicence/?ref=aymt_homepage_panel **

2017-07-13 22:01:04 +0100

100 signatures reached

2017-07-13 01:16:16 +0100

50 signatures reached

2017-07-11 20:00:38 +0100

25 signatures reached

2017-07-11 18:51:47 +0100

10 signatures reached