Havering (Parliament Politics Magazine) – Residents in Havering fear longer hours at a Gidea Park pub could lead to more crime and disorder, citing past street fights linked to late-night drinking.
The Drill, located on Brentwood Road, has requested to have its premises license modified so that it can operate until 12.20 a.m. on Monday through Thursday and until 1.20 a.m. on Friday and Saturday, which is an hour later than its present hours of operation.
However, Havering Council‘s licensing subcommittee is scheduled to consider the application next Monday (November 10) due to worries about the possibility of “disturbance to residents”.
According to a council report, the Metropolitan Police, the council’s licensing authority, and its environmental health team have raised three concerns to the plans, but no local businesses or people have voiced any issues.
Longer hours could result in “higher levels of intoxication,” which can lead to “antisocial behavior” and “violent crime,” according to the police and the licensing authorities.
The licensing authority’s representative, Oisin Daly, brought up “previous incidents at the premises… where fights have occurred in the street” in the letter of objection.
Additionally, “issues in the past” with customers gathering outside The Drill to cause “noise nuisance to neighbours” were mentioned.
PC Chris Stockman stated in the Met’s opposition that the proposed extension will “likely result in increased disturbance to local residents” due to things like customers “loitering” at closing time, loud voices, and slamming car doors.
PC Stockman referred to a specific incident to demonstrate the increased risk of “crime and disorder” as a result of patrons drinking later.
He said:
“At around 0015 hours on Christmas Day in 2022 patrons from the venue were involved in a large scale physical altercation in the street.
Whilst police acknowledge this isn’t a regular occurrence it does nonetheless demonstrate that violent offences involving intoxicated patrons have occurred at such hours.”
The expansion of the pub’s operating hours will “inadvertently increase the noise in the area in the early hours,” according to the environmental health team, even though they had “not received any complaints in the last year” concerning the establishment.
They pointed out that the location backs onto homes on Slewins Lane and is across from stores with apartments above on Brentwood Road.
The Drill’s operators take the “happiness and wellbeing of their customers and local community extremely seriously,” according to Star Pubs.
Instead of patrons departing early, which might have a “detrimental effect” on the business, they noted that the extended trade hours will enable The Drill to compete with other local pubs.
What objections did residents raise about the extended hours?
Substantially due to enterprises about increased noise disturbances, public nuisance, and crime and complaints. They stressed former incidents of fights and anti-social behavior in the thoroughfares near the pub, fearing that longer opening hours would complicate these problems.
Objections included worries about late- night congregations causing noise and waste, increased business during offish hours, and implicit safety pitfalls, especially for children in the area.
Residents stressed that the area is largely domestic, and the extension of alcohol deals and opening hours could negatively impact their quality of life and community safety. They called on the licensing authorities to prioritize public interest and community welfare by precisely considering these counteraccusations before approving extended hours.