Ms Lorraine Neale

Snr Licensing Officer

Maidstone Borough Council

Maidstone Gateway

King Street

Maidstone

Kent  ME15 6JQ

8 August, 2015.

Dear Ms Neale,

Re. 15/02243/LAPRE – Premises License: Bearsted Football Club, Honey Lane, Otham Kent.

The above proposal for a Premises License has raised considerable objections within the village.

Complaints from residents state that their quality of life, and indeed human rights, have already been seriously eroded by the existence of the club in a rural location.  Residents feel that these new proposals would add to existing problems and become an even more serious vexatious infringement of their rights.  Anything that causes an adverse effect on the quality of life of local people must outweigh any benefit for other people.

Public nuisance.  The site is only accessed via narrow country lanes.  There is no bus service.  None of the players in any of the teams are residents of Otham. 

The inevitable increase in members of the public attending the club can only add to traffic flows.  Moreover, there are documented complaints of congestion cause by parking on the narrow approach lanes. 

Bearsted Football Club have never shown any consideration to the residents of Otham. The noise generated by the club is both inconsiderate and offensive to the residents.

If a license to serve alcohol is granted this will cause further public nuisance. 

Crime and Disorder. It is likely that disorder may result from the ingestion of alcohol. The only access to the club is by car. Clearly no responsible club member (or guest) would be able to drink and then drive away from the club.

Whilst we appreciate Licensing do not take into account planning conditions, there is a history of flouting planning procedures, and detailed conditions imposed by both the Borough and the Planning Appeals’ Inspectorate, and Tree Preservation orders.  We believe the precedent that has been set for ignoring these conditions, suggests Licensing Laws may also be ignored.

Public safety. Sport causes dehydration. Drinking alcohol causes further dehydration and this can lead to physical illness in people who undertake exercise and then drink alcohol. Additional traffic may cause ‘peak’ flows through the village creating an unsafe environment for other users of the narrow roads such as pedestrians, riders and cyclists. 

Protecting children from harm. Children visiting the club will not be properly supervised if alcohol is being consumed at the club. This may put children at risk.

The Parish Council wishes to see the Premises License refused and asks for your support in rejecting this application.

Yours Sincerely,

Teresa Irving

CLERK TO THE COUNCIL