Village pub’s bid for outside bar area and events on car park spark objections

The Hartley Arms, located next to the canal at Wheaton Aston, is also proposing an extension to the seating space at the back of the pub.

But a request to vary the premises licence to allow the changes has met with objection from South Staffordshire District Council’s Environmental Protection team, as well as a local councillor.

The application stated: “The premise was formerly tenanted and has now reverted back to Marston’s PLC. It is noted that the licence has not been subject to change for a considerable number of years.

“The use of the external area is to be enhanced with licensable activities being undertaken externally. No change is sought in relation to the licensable activities or hours of operation, save that licensable activities in relation to recorded music, live music, performance of dance and films are sought to be permitted externally.

“No additional conditions are proposed, the premises having operated without issues arising for a considerable period of time.”

The district council’s Environmental Protection Team has called for licensable activities taking place outside to end no later than 11pm Monday to Friday and 10pm on Sundays and bank holidays if the premises licence variation is allowed.

The team also asked for a condition requiring an event management plan to be submitted to the local authority at least three months before an event takes place. Public Health Officer Phil Edge said: “Having considered the location of the premises, there are residential properties within 10m from the proposed site.

“Although there is an acoustic fence between the premises and the residential properties, this will have minimum effect on noise from any outside events. As the application site is within close proximity of residential and noise sensitive premises amenity we recommend refusal of the licence application.”

Councillor Rob Nelson, who represents the Lapley, Stretton and Wheaton Aston ward, said: “I would like to see the Hartley Arms public house in Wheaton Aston do well as a business. It is a popular social venue within the village and is striving to do well with so many public houses closing in these times.

“My objection to the variation is on the licensing objectives of public safety and the prevention of public nuisance. I am concerned that should the variation be allowed without any restrictions regarding the time or conditions for the use of the outside area local residents, especially in the new house estate and/or boaters who are moored on the canal, both adjacent to the Hartley Arms, will be disturbed by customers/noise of the pub using the outside patio/garden and buying alcohol from the outside bar until midnight and 1am.

“The application states that the car park will be used for occasional use for large scale events, how many times a year will the car park be used for the occasional use and where will the customers coming to the pub for the occasional large event park their cars? I am concerned that the cars will be parked along the road leading to and past the pub and into the village and without any control measures cars will be parked on the pavement which will see pedestrians have to go on the road to get past them.”

The Long Street pub is currently permitted to serve alcohol until midnight Monday to Thursday and 1am at weekends, with closing time half an hour later.

South Staffordshire District Council’s licensing sub-committee is due to consider the application at a hearing on Monday (December 9).