New café-bar proposed for Norman Road Saturation Zone

Does Norman Road need another licensed premises? It’s in one of only three saturation zones in the Borough. Noise and nuisance are important considerations for Hastings Borough Council (HBC) and even more so for local residents. Bernard McGinley reports.

Opposite the Kino is No 40 Norman Road, described as a ‘disused shop’. A new planning application (HS/FA/23/00620) seeks planning permission and licencing permission to turn it into a café-bar. That sounds suitably hip’n’happening for modern St Leonards, but details are disputed.

Is it to be primarily a bar, restaurant, café or music venue? The application form is inaccurate: the applicants don’t state the proposed opening hours (though an innocuous version is given in the Business Statement). They say there’s to be no trade effluent, which is not credible, and makes them look careless — not a good sign.

Local noise is a live issue, with establishments such as Tommy’s Pizzeria (once the Love Café), which became Yard Party Summer Pop-Up. Apart from the noise, local residents were left dealing with what T S Eliot referred to as 

. . . empty bottles, sandwich papers,

Silk handkerchiefs, cardboard boxes, cigarette ends

Or other testimony of summer nights. 

Some have pointed out that the shop for the new business is only ‘disused’ in the future, because the vintage clothing and ceramics business there is being evicted. The description is beyond disingenuous. Bramwell-Cole is to close in October.

The Kino’s owners have pointed out that 

The big problem will be the drinking culture replacing the arts culture which Norman Road has become known for. Parking, extra rubbish and food waste, deliveries, noise pollution. This new venture is not purpose built for this! 

Sui generis

The application is for

Proposed change of use from shop (Class E) to cafe and bar (Class E and Sui Generis).

A change within the same use class isn’t difficult, but in this case the proposal also to sell acohol pus it  in a different class (sui generis — of its own kind). Additionally the site is in a saturation zone, and close to a number of other properties selling alcohol. Then consideratons of cumulative impact arise:  the number and concentration of licensed premises in the area, adversely affecting the achievement promotion of the licensing objectives. Those objectives are:

• • • the prevention of public nuisance
    • the prevention of crime and disorder
    • public safety
    • the protection of children from harm.

Saturation Zone

The saturation zone was formally designated to control nuisance. (The Old Town and the Town Centre are the others.) In Central St Leonards, Norman Road from Warrior Square up to Gensing Road is designated, also London Road from the sea to Christ Church, and Kings Road. The Senior Licensing Officer of HBC has said of the present case:

If planning permission is granted, the applicant will need to demonstrate in their application for a premises licence, how the premises will not have a negative impact in the area, under the Four Licensing Objectives . . .

Without fully understanding the business, I am unable to make any further comments.   

Other concerns are the misuse of drugs (and other substances), re-offending, and serious violence. The licensing application should also discuss anti-social and other behaviour adversely affecting the local environment. Central St Leonards has had such applications before.

The planning deadline is Friday 6 October. Comments (citing HS/FA/23/00620) can be sent to dccomments@hastings.gov.uk.

 

 

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