Bradford licensing panel gives a green light to extension bid despite neighbours’ objections

At a meeting at City Hall yesterday members of the Council’s Bradford licensing panel agreed to allow East Bowling Unity Club a more flexible licence, which its owners said was needed to ensure its future.

The club in Leicester Street was granted an extension to its opening hours with conditions that it can serve alcohol until midnight Monday to Sunday and has been granted a 30-minute period to clear the premises. It can also run live music events on Friday-Sunday from 7.30-11pm.

The club had applied to be allowed to be open until 1am.

After the meeting, its secretary John Bruce said: “I am reasonably happy with the decision even though the hours are not quite what we asked for we did want until 1am but I am content and won’t appeal the decision.

“I’m not sure as yet what difference it will make as they have said 11pm as a cut off point for the entertainment so people may leave after that but time will tell.”

People living in Paley Terrace, Balfour Street, Coventry Street, Hereford Street and Rayleigh Street were among those who objected to the new licence.

Olwen Hall, who set up the petition and attended the hearing, said: “All I want is some consideration for the neighbours around the club. I didn’t ever want the club to disappear.”

Some of the issues raised by the neighbours’ concerned noise nuisance from thumping music, slamming taxi doors, smokers, anti-social behaviour including swearing customers leaving late and littering. Opposing the extension, Stanley Andrasic spoke of his concern about noise among other issues.

The club has been in Leicester Street for more than 40 years after moving from Wakefield Road and has more than 1,000 members.

Among the conditions of the new premises licence, the club must meet the requirements of the police concerning CCTV and a Challenge 21 policy. Mr Bruce has also agreed to meet the neighbourhood forum to discuss any problems.