Agenda item

To determine a premises licence application for Jubilee Camping, Browns Lane, Damerham.

 

1.               Parties and their Representatives attending the Hearing

 

Applicant:

 

Mr and Mrs Burrough, Jubilee Camping, Browns Lane, Damerham

 

Objector:

 

Mr Peter Brooks. (Accompanied by Kirsty Anderson and Paul Nicholls (Observing).)

 

 

2.               Other Persons attending the Hearing

 

Council Officers:

 

Christa Ferguson – Licensing Manager

Peter Donelan - Licensing Compliance Officer

 

 

3.               Officers attending to assist the Sub-Committee

 

Richard Davies – Legal Advisor

Andy Rogers – Democratic Services Officer

 

 

4.               The Chairman explained the procedure for the hearing which all parties agreed to.

 

The Legal Advisor then explained the reason for the hearing.

 

 

5.               Evidence

 

The Sub Committee considered the application along with the evidence, both written and oral, supplied by the Applicant and all those who had made relevant representations. In reaching its decision, the Sub-Committee has had regard to:

 

·        The Home Office Guidance issued under section 182of the Licensing Act 2003,

·        The Council's own Statement of Licensing Policy.

·        The steps that are appropriate to promote the licensing objectives

·        Relevant Representations presented by all parties.

 

At the hearing, the Sub-Committee carefully listened to all the evidence that was provided, and considered what action, if any, was appropriate for the promotion of the four licensing objectives namely, the prevention of crime and disorder; public safety; the prevention of public nuisance; and the protection of children from harm.

 

In accordance with section 18 of the Licensing Act 2003, where relevant representations have been made to the Licensing Authority in response to a premises licence application, the Licensing Authority must hold a hearing to consider them.

 

Having regard to these representations, the Licensing Authority must take such steps as it feels appropriate for the promotion of the licensing objectives.  The Licensing Manager’s report to the Licensing Sub-Committee explained that the objections received largely related to planning considerations, but reminded the Sub-Committee that consideration should only relate to the licensable activities and their impact on the 4 licensing objectives.

 

The Sub-Committee heard supporting oral evidence from Mr and Mrs Burrough (the Applicant and his wife), as well as from Mr Brooks, the Objector.

 

 

6.               Decision of the Sub-Committee

 

The application is GRANTED on the terms and conditions set out in the Licensing Manager’s report, subject to the following conditions accepted by the Applicant at the Licensing hearing:

 

1.     Supply of Alcohol (on the premises)

Monday to Sunday 08:00 to 22:00 (change from 23:00)

 

2.     A maximum of up to 12 events per calendar year (other than the film screenings mentioned in the report)

 

3.     Alcohol is only to be served to registered campers, with the exception of those events set out at 2 above.  In the case of those events alcohol may be served to both registered campers and non-campers.

 

7.               Reasons for the Decision

 

The Sub-Committee noted that the objector to the application, Mr Peter Brooks, lived approximately 250 metres from the campsite bar, as applied for.

It was also noted that since June 2018, Jubilee Camping had applied for 47 Temporary Event Notices (TENs), and during that time three noise complaints were received by Environmental Health in 2018, 2020 and 2021. Officers had reviewed and investigated these complaints and no further action was taken.

The Sub-Committee heard that an application had been made for a premises licence in order to give the Applicant flexibility to operate the bar in response to camping demand, which was very weather dependent.  The Applicant indicated that only 2 events involving external participants (for a charity and school) had been organised this year.

The Applicant introduced and circulated a leaflet that was handed out to users of the campsite, which included advice to campers on limiting noise, and that ‘Quiet Time is from  10pm’. The Applicant also explained the presence of site wardens who patrolled the site and monitored noise at night. There had also been no complaints on the operation of the site in recent years.

The Sub-Committee heard evidence from the Objector that in the early days of the campsite’s operation, there had been considerable noise late into the night, but that the situation had improved since Environmental Health had become involved. The Objector feared that with the proximity of the campsite to the village, granting the licence may result in a reversion to intrusive noise nuisance, given the various events that could take place, unless very tight restrictions were imposed. The Objector maintained that noise levels from up to 499 people at night could be significant, especially if the majority were drinking.

The Applicant was asked by the Sub-Committee whether he would accept extra conditions suggested by the Sub-Committee which were  (i) to cease the supply of alcohol at 10pm, (ii) to set a limit of up to 12 events per calendar year (other than the film screenings mentioned in the report), and (iii) that alcohol is only to be served to campers, except at these (maximum) 12 events, when alcohol could be  served to both campers and non-campers.   The Applicant indicated that he would accept these extra conditions.  Despite this, the Objector wished to maintain his objection.

Whilst the evidence supplied by the Objector was largely based on Planning concerns and not relevant to the 4 licensing objectives, the Sub-Committee was not unsympathetic to the Objector’s concerns over noise nuisance, given the proximity of the village to the campsite and historic involvement of Environmental Health over noise concerns.

The Sub-Committee also noted the Applicant’s willingness to accept the Sub-Committee’s suggested extra conditions to minimise noise, and efforts of the Applicant in monitoring noise through patrols and giving fliers to its customers reminding them to be quiet after 10pm.

In conclusion, the Sub-Committee pointed out to the Objector that granting a premises licence provided the Licensing Authority with greater control over the selling of alcohol than TENs, and gave greater protection to the local community, as it allowed local people to call the licence in for review if it was felt the conditions of the licence had been breached.

The Sub-Committee heard that all the Responsible Authorities had been consulted on the application, and, other than the conditions proposed by Environmental Health (which had been agreed by the Applicant), no other comments or objections had been received.

The Sub-Committee was mindful that there was a presumption in favour of granting an application unless there was evidence which undermined the promotion of the licensing objectives, and they therefore found no sufficient cause to prevent the granting of the application, subject to the conditions agreed.

 

Whilst the Applicant had sought alcohol serving times between 8am-11pm, the Sub-Committee modified the condition so that the latest time to serve alcohol is 10pm, which aligns with the campsite’s stipulated ‘Quiet Time’ from 10pm.

 

Should there be any concerns in the future regarding operation of the premises, the Licensing Act 2003 provides a statutory mechanism for any person to call the premises licence in for review.

 

 

 

 

Date:  23 July 2025

Licensing Sub-Committee Chairman:  Cllr Steve Clarke

 

 

FOR OFFICE USE ONLY

Decision notified to interested parties on 28 July 2025