Derbyshire village hall which has been barred from selling alcohol for 12 years wants to be able to sell booze

The Kilburn Community Association has applied to Amber Valley Borough Council for the right to sell alcohol at Kilburn Village Hall in Church Street.

A council licensing hearing will be held on Monday, October 30, after four objections were submitted by concerned residents. A current licence held for the village hall as of 2011 specifically prohibited alcohol sales.

The association has applied for the right to sell alcohol from 9am until 11pm from Sunday through to Thursday, 9am to midnight on Fridays and Saturdays, and from 9am until 1am on both Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve.

Their application says events at the venue would be limited to 100 people, with people hiring the facilities required to read and sign a form outlining responsibilities to follow licensing legislation and crime, disorder and noise nuisance regulations.

No cups, glasses or bottles would be allowed out of the venue and no admission or readmission would be allowed after 10.30pm.

“Noise breakout” will be monitored during events and the music will be lowered if it is found to be too high. Guests will be told to leave the premises when the event is over instead of standing around in the car park and talking.

Steve Gray, a Church Street resident, wrote: “My greatest overriding concern with this application is this passing of responsibility from those that are applying for a licence to whoever may be hiring the venue.

“The example of an 18th birthday party: It is highly likely that the consumption of alcohol by 17-year-olds will take place given that the peer group will be in the same academic year.

“Whilst remedial action may have an impact and complaints will have to be addressed if the hirer wishes to use the venue again, they are not ultimately responsible for the licence.

“Furthermore, given the numbers, the application makes reference to ensuring adequate ventilation by ensuring windows can be opened.

“However, this seems to be conflicting with ensuring nose and light is contained with blackout curtains and noise reduction systems. Surely opening windows will have the opposite effect?”

An anonymous resident wrote: “With alcohol being served in the village hall there is likely to be an increase in noise levels, particularly during the times when alcohol is being sold.

“Unlike pubs, which are licensed to sell alcohol and are subject to strict regulation and oversight, village halls may not have the same level of expertise or resources to manage the sale of alcohol responsibly.

“This could potentially lead to issues with underage drinking, overconsumption and other problematic behaviours that could negatively impact the community.”

A second anonymous resident wrote: “My initial concern is the possible disturbance this will cause in the immediate area. As a local resident and employee of the local village pub, excessive noise, anti-social behaviour and crowding is a huge concern along with any information about if or who will be responsible for policing any of the above issues.”

A third anonymous resident wrote: “We are concerned that the village hall – which is not to our knowledge owned by any specific individual with a financial vested interest – will not feel the need to shoulder the huge responsibility of the licence they are applying for requires in order for the village to continue enjoying the same high standards to which it has over the past years.”

Councillors on the licensing panel will decide whether to approve, reject or vary the application for an alcohol licence. This could include adding extra restrictions aimed at ensuring compliance.