An application for a licence to sell alcohol at the service station at the bottom of Station Approach has been withdrawn after a knock-back from the licensing committee.
At a hearing recently Cllr. Graham Arthur, on behalf of residents, had argued against the application, following which the bid was deferred in order to gather data on the number of potential customers and other aspects. Shortly after, however, the application was formerly withdrawn by the applicant.
The application to vary the licence for The New Inn was heard this morning. The hearing was attended by Cllr. Neil Reddin and also representatives from the Hayes Village Association and Wickham Common Residents’ Association.
Following representations from those present, the committee agreed to allow drinking only with a meal for the final hour (11pm to midnight) on Sunday through to Thursday – the existing licence already allows opening until midnight, though the current owners only usually serve alcohol until 11pm.
It was also agreed to allow drinking in the outside areas (including the back garden) only until 10pm.
The applicant had already agreed to change their proposed closing time of 00:30 back to the existing midnight, and the committee allowed the serving of (non-alcoholic) refreshments until midnight.
The licensee expects the refurbishments to be completed on the ground floor (the new restaurant and bar area) in time for a mid-June opening.
We anticipate that the plans for the upstairs function room will require a seperate licensing application, following a planning application.
Following an earlier rejection of a takeaway at 47 Croydon Road (the former butchers), an unrelated planning application was submitted for no. 41. While ostensibly for a coffee lounge/café, the opening hours (to 11pm), bar-style layout and alcohol licence application have raised serious concerns among residents.
We have made representations to the Council and currently both the planning application and licence hearing have been deferred.
UPDATE (12/10): The planning application, now amended to be solely for a restaurant-type usage, is coming before the Plans sub-committee this Thursday (15th).
Hayes & Coney Hall Conservative Councillors 