by Trevor Bevins, Local Democracy Reporting Service.
A Poundbury art gallery has been granted a drinks licence – despite neighbour objections.
It will allow on and off sales from the building between 9am and 11pm on every day of the week.
Among the conditions is to have CCTV coverage with all staff being trained in responsible alcohol sales, safeguarding and emergency procedures with glass collection from external areas to be limited to between 8am and 6pm to minimise the disturbance to residents.
A designated smoking area will also have to be provided outside.
One resident told a Dorset Council licensing panel that residents had moved into their homes expecting peace and quiet only to find the gallery wanting to offer drinks at promotional events and to hire the building to others.
The application had been made by Mr Angelo Fichera for Unit A, Market Hall, Crown Square, which is now trading as The Crown Square Gallery.
The application said that, on occasion, the business might also use the portico outside for entertaining. It also, incorrectly, referred to running a wine bar from the premises.
Resident Mr Nigel Swettenham told councillors deciding the licence application that the area was directly beneath his apartment balcony which was likely to create noise and smoke, disturbing him, his wife, and the residents of five other apartments.
Mr Swettenham told the licensing hearing at County Hall that others, including the landlord, had also objected to the licence being granted on the grounds of public nuisance.
Gallery director Mr Tony Hannan told the licensing panel that the venue had no intentions of becoming anything like a wine bar – wanting only to offer a glass of wine or beer at openings. He said the reference to a wine bar in the application had been a mistake.
Mr Swettenham said he had objected to the licence application because he and other residents did not want to take legal action to ensure the conditions of the lease, from the Duchy of Cornwall, were complied with.
Mr Swettenham told the hearing that he was ‘astonished’ that a wine bar, nearby, had been allowed.
Mr Hannan told councillors that he hoped the gallery would attract more people to Crown Square where, he said, most businesses currently appeared to be struggling.
The licensing panel decided to grant the Premises Licence for the gallery.
Crown Square Gallery