Wolverhampton banquet hall plan sparks noise and nuisance concerns

The recently-built Rose Garden in Parkfield Road, Blakenhall, has asked the council’s licensing bosses for permission to host weddings, parties, banquets, live music and occasional mixed martial arts, wrestling and boxing events.

However, the premises – on land formerly occupied by a Volvo car dealership and bowling green close to the junction with Dudley Road – is located within one of the city’s designated ‘Cumulative Impact Zones’.

This means the area has a high concentration of licensed premises which puts it at higher risk in terms of upholding the four licensing objectives.

The licence application has raised a number of concerns with local residents, West Midlands Police, city councillor Dr Paul Birch and also the council’s licensing, planning and environmental health bosses.

In a letter to the council, resident Kathleen Smith said: “The hall is next to Phoenix Park, where the consumption of alcohol is prohibited and in an area which has a disproportionately high level of existing licences.

“The hall is close to residential properties and those leaving the hall may cause some disruption to these residents both vocally and with vehicle noise. There may also be anti-social problems.”

'Families have a right'

Pc Michelle Churm, from West Midlands Police’s Partnerships and Licensing Department, said the force would be making representations under the licensing objective of the prevention of crime and disorder and intended to mediate with applicant Mr Kuljinder Pahal, who owns the premises.

In a letter to licensing chiefs, Councillor Birch said: “The surrounding flats are likely to have significant noise from vehicles and the venue itself and people spilling out after very long sessions of drinking alcohol.

“It is not reasonable that very young children put to bed should be awoken by the noise at this time of night.

"I appreciate the venue wants to provide a place for those celebrating to come together in enjoyment. However, those families who live opposite also have a right, and their right is not diminished by virtue of the venue’s investment.

“The venue, we were told, would not interrupt the quiet enjoyment householders have to enjoy the comfort of their own homes. This license and licenses of a similar nature interrupts that quiet enjoyment.

“In addition, next door to the venue is the NHS trauma centre. Ambulances come and go at all hours. Medical priority trumps that of party revellers, and therefore on these grounds I invite the committee to reject this application for licensing,” he added.

The council’s Licensing Authority Responsible Lead Elaine Moreton said Mr Pahal had applied to sell alcohol on the premises from 11am to 11pm Monday to Sunday, and until 2am on Christmas Eve, Christmas Day and New Year’s Eve.

“This raises concern for the licensing authority as to the location of the premises and its planning permission. Planning restrictions throughout the application have been undermined.

“The planning decision notice states that ‘operational hours of the banqueting suite shall be restricted to 10.00am to 23.00pm Mondays to Sundays and on bank and public holidays’. The operating schedule should be amended to reflect the planning decision notice,” she said.

Mrs Moreton added that she would be looking to mediate with Mr Pahal in order to address these concerns.

Management and mitigation

Planning Officer Tracey Homfray said: “The use of the premises and its operation into the early hours would be a major concern with respect to neighbouring amenities, if not managed/mitigated appropriately.

“Disturbance associated with noise emanating from the premises and the parking area during unsociable hours is a major factor, as large numbers of people vacate the venue during the early hours.

“Noise associated with talking, laughing, shouting and vehicle engines starting, stopping, revving would disturb occupants of neighbouring residential properties, resulting in a public nuisance.

“Such events as boxing and wrestling attract large numbers of grouped patrons, especially male spectators, which can be rowdy in nature (shouting, singing, fighting), especially as they are alcohol-fuelled, resulting in public disorder,” she added.

The council’s senior food and consumer safety officer Emma Waites said the premises had already been the subject of many discussions and site meetings between environmental health and planning officers to address public nuisance and noise concerns.

Peter Adkins, from Knights Solicitors, acting on behalf of Mr Pahal, said the venue’s Designated Premises Supervisor, named as Jagdip Singh Pahal on the application, would consider the need for door staff for each event by carrying out a full risk assessment.

He added that the premises had fully operational CCTV, would adopt a zero tolerance policy over the use or supply of illegal substances, keep an incident log and operate a strict ‘Challenge 25’ ID code, with no unaccompanied children being admitted.

Mr Adkins said that his client was willing to restrict the hours for permitted activities to 11am-11pm, change the opening hours to 10am-11pm and remove the application for boxing/wrestling events.

Wolverhampton Council’s statutory licensing sub-committee will discuss the application during an online meeting on April 29.