Licence approved for Wolverhampton banquet hall next door to walk-in centre
A banqueting hall has been given the go-ahead to hold public functions despite fears that increased traffic could prevent emergency vehicles reaching a health centre next door.
The Rose Garden in Wolverhampton was granted permission to host wedding parties, banquets and live music by the city council’s Statutory Licensing Sub-Committee this week.
The centre was recently built on a site immediately next to the Phoenix Health Centre in Parkfield Road, Blakenhall.
However, local councillor Dr Paul Birch, said allowing the move would go against the wishes of NHS bosses at the centre and “could cost lives”, with a significant rise in the number of cars parking nearby.
Councillor Birch, who is also the owner and managing director of Revolver Records on nearby Goldthorn Hill, told the committee that granting the licence would present a “living nightmare” for neighbouring residents in terms of noise disturbance.
He said: “I have two principal concerns here. In the week before we went into lockdown I had a meeting with bosses at the Phoenix Centre and they raised concerns over parking provisions.
“If any vehicles are inappropriately parked on the NHS car park or near to the flats, then this will cause a problem for ambulances or emergency vehicles primarily trying to collect patients from the health centre. Minutes matter and any delay is a threat to life.
“I am also concerned about families with young children or grandchildren being put to bed early. Any noise from people leaving the hall or cars late at night will mean that five-year-olds have really got their work cut out in trying to go to sleep.
“Our primary responsibility here is to the community itself and I do have significant concerns."
The committee had previously received two letters of protest from members of the public, raising concerns over the sale of alcohol leading to a potential increase in anti-social behaviour and noise nuisance.
Members earlier heard from barrister Leo Charalambides, acting on behalf of applicant Mr Kuljinder Pahal, who owns the Rose Garden.
He told members the business was a family-run affair, with Mr Pahal’s brother Jagdip Singh Pahal, serving as the venue’s designated premises supervisor.
He said: “The family already has considerable experience of running a similar establishment in Birmingham for the last ten years, which they have done successfully and without incident.
“The vast majority of events at this venue are all booked in advance. This is primarily a food venue and should be thought of in the same way as a restaurant, rather than a nightclub or an alcohol-led premises.
“A lot of the events serve the South East Asian community and cater for a lot of Islamic weddings where alcohol is not involved. The layout for functions is largely seated. This is not a vertical drinking establishment.”
Mr Charalambides added that his client had agreed to restrict hours for permitted activities to 11am to 11pm, including a 30-minute winding down period, and also to remove an application for boxing/wrestling events and additional hours for seasonal festivities.
He said that only the ground floor would be used for events and staff would carry out a full risk assessment beforehand, with a minimum of two SIA-trained (Security Industry Authority) staff in attendance at any one time.
Wolverhampton Council's senior food and consumer safety officer Emma Waites said both the environmental health and planning departments had previously mediated with the premises to address public nuisance and noise concerns.
Councillor Alan Bolshaw, chairman of the statutory licensing sub-committee, said members had agreed to grant the application.
He added: “Perhaps the premises owners could liaise with the local community and invite people in to show them how the venue will operate, and also speak to the Phoenix Health Centre to address any concerns they have."
