St Asaph residents angry about caravan park booze bid

Aug 20 2008 By Andrew Davies

A DECISION will be made tomorrow (Thursday) on whether to grant a holiday park permission for an alcohol licence – a move which angered St Asaph residents.

They are concerned that it will increase alcohol-related anti-social behaviour, crime and noise.

The application by Spring Gardens Holiday Park, which was submitted in July, includes requests for live music on weekends, late night refreshment from Monday to Sunday from 11pm until 2am, and premises opening hours from 11.30am until 2.30am, Monday to Sunday.

A compromise has been offered following a number of objections to the application, with Spring Gardens offering a proposal that there will be no licensable activities outside of the premises and licensable activities will only take place between 11.30am and 11pm on Monday to Thursday, and extended on weekends to 1am.

St Asaph resident Linda Gummer has expressed her concern.

"I do not believe that we need yet another place where alcohol can be consumed all day. Living behind The Talardy Hotel does submit the residents to weekends of loud music and very merry guests, especially during the wedding season," she said.

Another angry objection called for the committee to take into consideration the rights of the local residents, "to be protected from what could be a nightmare scenario".

Vale of Clwyd MP Chris Ruane has also sent a letter of objection, and told the Visitor: "I have been contacted by many residents who live in the Roe Park area who have concerns over this application.

"There are huge concerns over the possible granting of a licence which would permit the sale of alcohol, and allowing it to remain open until 2am, seven days a week.

"People could be encouraged to travel down from the various bars and restaurants in St Asaph after closing to get a later drink in the Spring Gardens, creating noise, disturbance and anti-social behaviour to the residents."

"Roe Park has traditionally been a ‘quiet’ more rural setting and I agree with the residents that Spring Gardens should not be granted this licence."

Conditions have been collated following the objections which include not permitting the playing of live or recorded music externally in the beer garden, prominent notices displayed requesting patrons to respect the needs of local residents and to leave quietly, and also that licensable activities shall be provided solely for the benefit of those staying on the caravan site.

These conditions may be imposed by Denbighshire’s licensing sub-committee when they meet tomorrow.