Licensing Hours must end at Midnight, Friday and Saturday

Work is in progress to review the borough's Licensing Policy. Epsom town is becoming more densely populated and the interests of the night-time economy must be better balanced with the needs of town centre residents.

In response to a draft policy document, Liberal Democrats have asked for additional conditions. Firstly, a general restrictions on licensing hours to 11pm on Sunday to Thursday, plus to midnight on Friday and Saturday. They have also suggested a curfew on the use of outside areas so that customers bring drinks inside after 10pm. They want more stringent conditions for premises below residential properties - and there are many around Derby Square and in the High Street itself. A lobby is suggested so that the chance of noise being heard outside the premises is minimised.

Arguably the most important comment is that planning permission for hours of operation be granted BEFORE a licence extension is granted. Regular readers will know that in the case of some licensed premises, planning permission has been refused but then a licence granted. This places the borough council in a position of having to enforce the restrictions, which is not only expensive but also has no guarantee of support in the courts.

If you would like to know more about the Licensing Policy, contact Alison Kelly or Christine Key or Nigel Pavey. Both Christine and Nigel sit on the council's Licensing Committee. Alison is familiar with problems in the town centre itself.