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APPENDIX 5

 

From: Jo Hayes
Sent: 20 October 2020 17:06
To: Lorraine Neale <LorraineNeale@maidstone.gov.uk>
Subject: RE: 20/02032/LACPC - Marden Cricket and Hockey Club

 

Hi Lorraine

 

On the first point, the application to open at 8am also refers to the grounds as we are an outside sports facility. There was not an option on the form to specific inside/outside. It is important that the opening hours of 8am covers the grounds as well.

 

This is our response back to the objections.

 

We feel that many of the objections to our licence application are not related to licensing and therefore should be handled externally to the licensing process.  We also believe that many of the objectors are not aware of our current licensed opening times or the nature and times of our existing licensed activities.

 

The primary purpose of Marden Cricket and Hockey Club is to provide sport to our members.  The vast majority of the events held at the club are related to the sports that we play I.e. end-of-season dinners and awards ceremonies.  We also hold charity events, raising much needed funds for the club, local and other charities (eg. Saints v Sinners cricket match in aid of two village organisations, SportsFest in aid of NHS charities). External party bookings are rare, mainly because we are playing sport at the club on weekends throughout the year and the facilities are consequently unavailable.  However, the club does have to be financially viable and much-needed funds can be raised by hiring out not only the pitches and courts, but on occasion, the clubroom.  This is not unusual for a sports club, particularly those that are completely self-sufficient financially.  Our facilities are used by local organisations such as the National Fruit Show, the Weald of Kent Ploughing Match Society and the local Young Farmers group.  These are not noisy, raucous occasions but we do provide a much-needed affordable meeting place for a variety of organisations.  The Clubroom has also been used on occasion to hold wakes for members or members’ relatives.  This is something we do not charge for.

 

Since our original application we have found the licensing hours to be restrictive to the sports activities at the club and the requested changes are primarily to accommodate the patterns of members attending the site.  For instance, we have hockey matches from 10am on a Saturday and on a Sunday we have coaching for 100 colt cricketers and 350 junior hockey players from 9am, but are not able to offer supporters refreshments or even shelter until 11am.  This is obviously not conducive to a successful sports club particularly in the winter months.

 

We have set out below what our current hours are and what the changes are that we have applied for.  We think it is really important that those who have objected can see that the changes are intended to accommodate the sporting activity as opposed to late night events. 

 

Current

Applied for

Live music (Indoors)

 

Every day 18.00 – 23.00

NYE 19.00 – 02.00

 

 

 

Saturday and Sunday 11.00 – 23.00 (no change to end)

NYE 18.00 – 02.00 (no change to end)

Recorded Music

 

Every Day 18:00 - 23:00

NYE 19.00 – 02.00

 

 

9.00 – 23.00 (no change to end)

NYE 19.00 - 2.00 hours (no change)

 

Sale or Supply of Alcohol

 

Every Day 11:00 - 23:00

NYE 11.00 – 03.00

 

Films

No current provision

 

 

 

Saturday 10.00 – 23.00 (no change to end)

NYE 11.00 - 3.00  (no change)

 

Mon – Thurs 8.00 – 23.59

Friday 8.00 – 1.00

Saturday 8.00 – 2.00

Sunday 8.00 – 23.00

 

 

Opening hours

 

Monday to Thursday 11:00 - 23:59

Friday 11:00 - 01:00

Saturday 11:00 - 02:00

Sunday 11:00 - 23:00

 

 

Monday – Thursday 8.00 – 23.59 (no change to end)

Friday 8.00 – 1.00 (no change to end)

Saturday 8.00 – 2.00 (no change to end)

Sunday 8.00 – 23.00 (no change to end)

NYE 8.00 – 3.00 (no change to end)

 

The non-standard opening hours of the premises:

 

Extended hours for up to 8 occasions a year, always on a Friday or Saturday. (We haven’t used any of these in the current calendar year).

 

Friday Occasions: Live Music 18:00 to 01:00, Recorded Music 18:00 to 01:00 and Supply of Alcohol 18:00 to 01:00

Saturday Occasions: Live Music 18:00 to 01:00, Recorded Music 18:00 to 01:00 and Supply of Alcohol 18:00 to 02:00

 

On New Year's Eve from 11.00 hours until 03.00 hours on New Year's Day

 

Application to show films:

 

This will be a very occasional event to raise funds for the club or for charity.  There is no intention of this being a regular occurrence but just gives the club an alternative option for fundraising.

 

Hopefully, everyone can see that it is not our intention to become a nightclub and that there is no application to extend late night drinking.

 

Many of the objections refer to the lack of footpath.  There is a footpath that runs from the front gate of the Club and along to Howland Road, which in turn has a pavement all the way into Marden.  It may not be the preferred route, but it is an official footpath, and it is factually incorrect to state that there is no pedestrian access from the Club to the village.

 

There were some objections that have little or no bearing on the licence:

 

Floodlights

 

The floodlights that we have installed are top-of-the-range LED and are designed for the minimum light spill.  They are always off before 10pm as per the regulations.

 

Noise from hockey balls

 

We are already looking at ways of muffling the noise from hockey hitting the boards.

 

We would appreciate it if you could distribute these comments to the objectors and any other interested parties.

 

Many thanks

Jo