Agenda, decisions and minutes

Application for a Premises Licence for Station Lane Express, 89 Station Lane, Hornchurch RM12 6JU

PREMISES

Station Lane Express

89 Station Lane

Hornchurch

RM12 6JU

DETAILS OF APPLICATION

Application for a premises licence under section 17 of the Licensing Act 2003 (“the Act”).

APPLICANT

Mr Balasandram Vijayatharan

79 Laird Avenue

Grays

RM16 2NL

1.         Details of the application

Seasonal variations & Non-standard timings

There are no seasonal variations or non-standard timings on this application.

2.         Promotion of the Licensing Objectives

The applicant acted in accordance with premises licence regulations 25 and 26 relating to the advertising of the application.  The required newspaper advertisement was installed in the Yellow Advertiser on Wednesday 27 June 2012. 

3.         Details of Representations

Valid representations may only address the four licensing objectives

• The prevention of crime and disorder;
• The prevention of public nuisance;
• The protection of children from harm; and
• Public Safety.

There were two valid representations against this application from interested parties.

The interested parties’ representations covered points relating to crime and disorder, public safety and public nuisance and both mentioned that the premises is within the saturation area listed in the London Borough of Havering’s licensing policy.

There were two representations against this application from responsible authorities:

The Metropolitan Police and the Licensing Authority both outlined their concerns relating to the grant of a premises licence and both mentioned the premises being inside a saturation area.

There were no representations from the following responsible authorities:

Public Health

The London Fire and Emergency Planning Authority

The Health & Safety Enforcing Authority

The Trading Standards Service

Planning Control & Enforcement

Children & Families Service

Health Authority

In the absence of the Licensing Officer, the Chairman asked whether his report could be accepted without being orally presented.  This was agreed.

Inspector Blackledge Licensing Inspector presented the case forthe Metropolitan Police.  She stated that the Applicant had not shown that it was bringing anything new to the locality and this was important because the location of the premises was within a saturation area and that in close proximity there were numerous outlets selling alcohol: other convenience stores/off-licences, restaurants, pubs and clubs.  She reminded the Sub-Committee that Havering had identified that a good deal of crime and disorder, public nuisance and threat to public safety was exacerbated by the use of alcohol, and in the St Andrews ward in particular, hence the area had been made the subject of a saturation policy. The Police were concerned that the practice of “pre-loading” by those participating in the night-time economy was very much in evidence within and around Hornchurch and much of the alcohol used for this “pre-loading” was likely to come from peripheral off-licences.

The Inspector cited four other off-sales establishments that were, she said, “less than five minutes walk” from 89 Station Lane.  She drew the Sub-Committee’s attention to the potential scale of alcohol sale by reference to the floor space proposed for its display and sale and argued that it would be the sale of alcohol that would drive the  ...  view the full minutes text for item 1.