A call to allow a service hatch at a Pembroke diner to serve alcohol well into the early hours, with a call for as late as 5am at weekends, has been allowed in part.
The September meeting of Pembrokeshire County Council’s licensing sub-committee considered an application for a variation of previous conditions at Parkside Diner, Commons Road, Pembroke.
A previously granted license allows the sale of alcohol from 10am-11pm, with an 11.30pm closure.
The application sought to amend this to include a serving hatch for late night refreshments and sale of alcohol (on and off sales) between midnight and 5am Friday and Saturday, along with sales of alcohol to midnight each other day, and opening hours of 6am-12.30am.
Four objections, along with six letters of support have been received; those objecting include the council’s pollution officer on the grounds of public nuisance, the police’s licensing raising the potential of a “migration of patrons” late at night from the town’s Main Street nightclub, and local county councillor for Pembroke Monkton and St Mary South Cllr Jonathan Grimes.
Cllr Grimes, who raised concerns about the original application, said the call for hours as late as 5am “is totally unsuitable and would lead to a rise in antisocial behaviour”.
“In my role as county councillor, I am frequently approached by residents of the ward with concerns over anti-social behaviour in the area around The Commons in Pembroke as well as the Main Street itself. This is often linked to the drunken behaviour as well as the misuse of drugs.
“I therefore believe that a business selling alcohol late at night in this particular area would only be detrimental to the peaceful existence of the adjacent residential properties and the wider community. It would encourage people to dwell in the immediate vicinity of the premises and possibly encourage drunken behaviour.”
Supporters of the proposals raised comments including: “The Parkside Diner has been open now for over a year and has had no anti-social behaviour issues and no police visits. I live very close and don’t see there being a problem with them serving alcohol later than they already do.”
Another said: “There is nothing, absolutely nothing, like this business in the area and it should be given a chance to operate for the later hours, even if it is for a trial period. If properly managed and it doesn’t cause any visiting anti-social behaviour, then it could be a benefit for the area.”
At the September meeting, Cllr Grimes said his main concern was “public safety and antisocial behaviour that is a blight on Pembroke at the moment,” adding: “Residents have been contacting me about the serving of alcohol to 4-5am, it doesn’t sit well with them or me.”
He said he had “no problem with the business at all,” but stressed: “I just don’t feel drinking alcohol at 5am around the streets of Pembroke is a healthy way for the town.”
Members agreed to amend conditions to allow the sale of alcohol to 2am on Fridays and Saturdays, with late night refreshments via the hatch allowed to 4am Friday and Saturday.
They also included conditions that the sale of alcohol via the hatch after midnight must be through sealed containers and that a registered doorman must be present on those days from midnight until 4am.
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