Birmingham cricket club's bar extension approved despite complaints

Walmley Cricket and Sports Club in Sutton Coldfield has received consent to vary its premises licence following a Birmingham City Council licensing sub-committee meeting last week.

The club had asked for permission to extend the area where drinks can be served to include covered terraces and grassed areas next to the building.

More than 70 neighbours had opposed the plans with one person saying there are already problems with “noise” and “drunkenness”.

One resident said during the meeting “many residents are already worried, upset and exasperated by the hours the club operates”.

The club’s chairman Martin Hoffman said before the hearing the complaints were the “final straw” and he was minded to accept an offer of more than £4 million for the site.

Now, councillors on the sub-committee have ruled the club can vary its licence as applied for provided it meets conditions.

These include that a noise-limiting device is put in place to cut off amplified sound if it reaches a certain level.

Hours for all external areas open to customers for drinking will be 11am to 9pm Sunday to Thursday and 11am to 10pm Friday and Saturday.

The sub-committee consisted of chair Councillor Phil Davis, Councillor Martin Straker Welds and Councillor Bob Beauchamp.

The committee stated in its decision: “The club felt that there had been a misunderstanding about the nature of the application and what would be involved.

“The application simply sought to regularise the licence – modifying the activities, and updating it to change the licensed area.

“Counsel for the applicant observed that the main fear among residents, namely the likelihood of an increase in noise nuisance, was also a misunderstanding, as live music would not go beyond 11pm hours, and in any event the proposals had been approved by Environmental Health (with the addition of some conditions), after they carried out a site visit.

“The outside area was already in use by customers; the application was simply to sell alcohol there.

“The premises had no history of complaints, and to grant the variation application would introduce proper controls which were not currently there.”

Dealing with representations from neighbours, the committee stated: “Some residents raised the issue of a risk of increased antisocial behaviour, but there had been no representations from West Midlands Police.

“There was also mention of the fear that the essence of the club was being lost, and that it was to become a social venue with a focus on money-making; this would perhaps lead to an increase in the number of people using it for socialising and not sport.

“However counsel for the applicant had pointed out that the outside area was already in use.”

In its conclusion, the sub-committee stated: “The sub-committee determined that a responsible style of management, and the agreed conditions, would be sufficient to enable the premises to uphold the licensing objectives such that the additional activities and the additional licensed area could be permitted.

“The sub-committee considers the conditions imposed to be appropriate, reasonable and proportionate to address concerns raised.”