An Isle of Wight campsite has been granted permission to sell alcohol until 22:00, 7 days a week.
A licensing subcommittee at County Hall approved Nationwide Lodges’ amended application for a premises licence at Adgestone Campsite Touring Park earlier this week (Monday).
The firm requested permission for the sale of alcohol every day of the week from 08:00 to 22:00 as well as live music between Monday and Sunday from midday to 22:00.
It also sought authorisation between Monday and Sunday for three other activities: recorded music from 08:00 to 22:00, films between 17:00 and 22:00 and plays from 08:00 until 22:00.
Following an amendment agreed after discussions with the council’s environmental health department, Nationwide Lodges also asked that on no more than six occasions per year, hours for the five activities may be extended until 23:00, subject to conditions.
Plays, films and living music events will be ‘occasional’, according to a submitted application form.
Cllr Julie Jones-Evans, Island First Network chair of the subcommittee, said:
“We’ve very pleased to see the amount of work that had been done from when the original application had come in, that residents were listened to, that the main activity has been moved lower down the site further away from residents and that the noise management plan is going to be very helpful and able to manage any situations that come up.
Article continues below this advertisement “That has to be in place before any licensable activity takes place.”
Jodie Gibson, senior lawyer at the Isle of Wight Council, said the licence was granted in line with the application but with a reduction in timings for licensable activities as agreed between the applicant and environmental health.
It is also subject to conditions settled with the police, County Hall and those set out in the Licensing Act 2003, such as an age verification policy being in place relating to alcohol sales.
David Harrison, representing the applicant, said:
“We have…already expended significant funds to revive the campsite into a busy, vibrant, popular holiday location.
“However, in order for the site to have any chance of being sustainable in the immediate future and for the long-term, we need to expend significant more sums of money on upgrading and expanding the facilities so that we may be able to attract more customers from both the Island and further afield.”
He highlighted the importance of entertainment provision and variety at the site and said there is currently investment in CCTV on the premises to aid the prevention of crime.
A total of 23 representations opposing the application were received during a consultation period, which subsequently fell to 18 after more information was circulated by the applicant, according to a council report.
It said concerns have been raised over late-night entertainment causing disturbance to residential properties which prompted the applicant to agree a 22:00 cut off for live and recorded music, except for 6 occasions 3 year.
There was also previously disquiet regarding possible increases in litter.
The council report noted Nationwide Lodges has in response committed to using a company, Biffa, to manage waste disposal at the site.
