School's drink bid reaches happy ending
Adam Hewitt • Published 11 Jun 2010 14:00
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A SCHOOL'S alcohol and entertainment licence hearing turned into a haggling session between its bursar and worried neighbours.
Queen Anne's School in Henley Road, Caversham, has been using police temporary event notices to host functions like weddings, balls and club meetings and to sell alcohol but was advised by Reading Borough Council to get a proper licence.
But this drew the ire of neighbours who feared the wide scope of the application - which would permit music, alcohol, outdoor dancing and opening until past midnight - could turn the school into a party venue or even a rock festival.
The school bursar, finance director Ed Hellings, told Tuesday's hearing: "We've no intention of a Led Zeppelin concert or tribute band week at Queen Anne's. Over my dead body!
"We're not trying to run any kind of entertainment venue. I want to run a school."
There were 23 objection letters and seven residents spoke at the meeting about late-night noise disturbance and traffic congestion.
Paul Ireland, chairman of Grosvenor Road Residents' Association, said: "This is primarily a residential area and we'd like to keep it that way."
Helen Lambert of Derby Road added: "Large numbers of people are capable of making a large amount of noise, even without amplified music."
They listed detailed restrictions they would like to see put in place - and Mr Hellings gave way on nearly all of them, one by one.
Cllr Jeanette Skeats, chairing the hearing, joked: "I hope somebody is keeping a list!"
After the three-hour discussion, the panel granted the licence, with most of the conditions the residents and school had agreed on in the negotiations, including a limit of 25 events a year, limits on outdoor events and on sound levels.
Residents complained that hundreds of households were ignored in the consultation. Cllr Skeats apologised and promised a "private discussion" with licensing officials.
After the hearing, objector Laurie Fineman said: "I think neighbours will be okay with this."
Mr Hellings said he was "delighted" the negotiations led to a happy outcome.
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