ST MARGARET’S WITH ST NICHOLAS WARD FORUM

Please reply to Sally Turff, secretary, 15 Queen St, King’s Lynn, PE30 1HT
Tel: 01553 764422 E: twosaintsKL @gmail.com

Environment and Planning — Licensing
Borough Council King’s Lynn and West Norfolk,
Chapel Street,
King’s Lynn,
PE30 1EX

22^nd July, 2020

Dear Sir,
Re: Licensing application, Whatahoot Ltd, King Street. Ref 20/00902/LA_PRE

The St Margaret’s with St Nicholas Ward Forum represents residents and businesses located within the ward in which 7a King St is also located. It is with great concern that we learn of the application to sell alcohol for consumption on and off the premises, especially as, it would appear, there are no conditions proposed.

The property is one of the many fine period buildings in King Street, and initially we were delighted to see the applicants’ plans to restore it to its former glory — indeed, we understand that work has already begun and appears to be being executed in an exemplary manner. We are therefore dismayed to learn of the extensive hours for the sale of alcohol, which is proposed. King Street is a mainly residential area and the commercial premises situated there are of a professional nature, therefore once the daily bustle of traffic has ceased, it is quiet and pleasant with none of ‘night-time economy’ elements which distinguish, for example, Norfolk Street.

We are therefore opposed to such an extensive licensing period and strongly request that sales are limited to standard licensing hours.

We must stress that we are not opposed to the use of 7A as a distillery, though we do question whether it is appropriate for such a building in such a locality — a narrow medieval alley of interconnecting properties many of which are listed. At present the majority of the properties are residential and occupants, who are used to a degree of serenity, do not relish the prospect of the sale of alcohol over such long periods. Inevitably this must entail a fair degree of coming and going with the inevitable disruption; however well-run there must be potential for noise and worse, anti-social behaviour. We are further concerned that the applicants’ business plan includes ‘venue hire’, which will mean yet more activity.

We appreciate that the parameters of the licensing act are such that the licensing authority is unable to do much to ameliorate a possible nuisance at the application stage and before any

more follows/
CONTD/ Licensing application, Whatahoot Ltd, King Street. Ref 20/00902/LA_PRE/2

nuisance has taken place, but it can place some limits upon the hours of activity and we urge you to do so.

The borough council is intent upon ‘improving town centre living’, to quote from Vision King’s Lynn, and the attractive nature of streets such King Street and its network of alleyways, is certainly drawing people to relocate in the vicinity. However if the number of drinking establishments continues to increase without any proper controls, this intention will not/is unlikely to succeed.

Yours faithfully,

Julian S. Litten,
Chairman
CC Cllrs Lesley Bambridge, Francis Bone. Steven King, Conservation Officer.