Balancing the bar life in Bury St Edmunds
Over the last year we’ve had an increasing number of complaints about the impact of licensed premises on some residents in Bury St Edmunds and a call from councillors in the Abbeygate ward for us to take stronger action to regulate this.
The problems are stemming from the main eating and drinking area in the town where you find over 32 of the town’s bars and restaurants. Some residents have complained about noise and vandalism which they consider is spoiling the busy and attractive night time area around Guildhall Street, Westgate Street, Crown Street, Angel Hill and Abbeygate Street.
One thing we could do is to adopt a special licensing policy for this area so that we could take a stricter view on any new applications for additional bars and licensed premises or for longer opening hours if local people or consultrees object to them. This wouldn’t affect the existing businesses which operate here (although it could prevent them from opening for longer at night) but it may help with preventing further crime and disorder and preventing public nuisance.
At the Licensing and Regulatory Committee on 7 July 2008 Members considered report Z96 and decided to formally consult on a special area policy.
The consultation will take place between 18 July and 10 October 2008. If you would like to submit comments on the proposed special area policy please write to Hilary Workman, Licensing Services Manager, at the address below. Please include your name and contact details. You should be aware that responses will be included in a report to the Licensing and Regulatory Committee scheduled for 10 November 2008. The report will be a public document which will be published on the internet. If you wish to have your contact details withheld, please notify us of this in your original submission.
Licensing Services
St Edmundsbury Borough Council
Borough Offices
Angel Hill
Bury St Edmunds
Suffolk IP33 1XB
Phone: 01284 757103
Email: licensing@stedsbc.gov.uk
