A chain of café/bars may have to drop plans for outdoor seating at their forthcoming branch in a Herefordshire town.
Loungers last month sought a licence for its planned new “Canotto Lounge” in the Maltings shopping centre, Ross-on-Wye, enabling it to serve alcohol indoors and out till midnight each night, and until 2am on New Year’s Eve.
There were no public objections to this during the consultation period.
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But Herefordshire Council’s licensing officers objected to the inclusion of an outdoor seating area on Broad Street comprising seven tables and 18 chairs, saying Loungers “has failed to demonstrate how (this) can be operated without adversely impacting upon pedestrian movement, public safety and the prevention of crime and disorder”, and calling for this part of the bid to be refused.
Environmental health officers did not object but did seek conditions on noise management, while trading standards asked for further conditions on staff training, door policy including restrictions on unaccompanied under-16s after 8pm, and a prohibition on adult entertainment.
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Given these, the bid will be passed to the council’s licensing subcommittee of councillors, who will decide next Monday (August 24) whether to pass the application with or without the requested amendments, or refuse it entirely.
The case comes at a time when the council plans to review how it operates street pavement licensing with a view to making it less onerous on businesses.
Loungers’ two planning applications to Herefordshire Council, covering conversion of the previous Original Factory Shop premises and installation of new external signage, have also yet to be decided on despite the target dates for these decisions having passed.
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