Public urination and noise concerns raised over Scarborough nightclub's 3am licence plan
A Scarborough nightclub’s bid to extend its opening hours until 3am has been met with objections and concerns about public urination and noise pollution.
Fusion, near the town centre, wants to extend its opening hours until 3am on Friday and Saturday, as well as 2am from Sunday to Thursday.
However, concerns about antisocial behaviour have been raised by neighbouring residents and council officers who have been dealing with complaints since the start of the year.
The premises licence application submitted by JPH Venues Ltd would also allow the bar at 94-100 St Thomas Street to sell alcohol past 2am.
Currently, the business can sell alcohol until midnight and until 1am on Saturday.
An objection, submitted by a neighbour ahead of a council meeting to decide on the plans next week, states: “There have been fights outside of my house away from Fusion, and people have been urinating in the street.
“There must have been three or four call-outs from the police to Fusion.
“I don’t believe Fusion should have its licenses extended.
"It is disturbing my health and sleep, and my mental health isn’t great.”
The bar, which opened in November last year, describes itself as a “new intimate late-night venue” on its social media page.
The playing of recorded music could also be extended as part of the application and would match the new proposed opening hours, if the application is approved.
Two separate complaints from neighbours were investigated by the council in January and May this year, and a joint site visit was conducted by the council’s environmental protection team, licensing officers, and North Yorkshire Police’s licensing unit in January.
Fusion’s premises supervisor was advised to engage an acoustic consultant to assess the premises and “identify measures necessary to prevent noise breakout”.
However, according to a new council report, the applicant has “not provided the acoustic assessment requested” by officers.
An officer on North Yorkshire Council’s environmental health team, said: “In the absence of a suitable acoustic assessment, we do not have sufficient evidence to conclude that the proposed activities can operate without causing disturbance to nearby residential properties or giving rise to public nuisance.”
Following a negotiation between the licence holder and North Yorkshire Police, additional conditions have been agreed ahead of a meeting of the licensing sub-committee on Wednesday, September 16, which will be held to decide on the proposal.
The conditions include the installation of a colour CCTV system, a requirement to have at least two security door staff on Fridays, at weekends and bank holidays, as well as participation in local crime reduction initiatives.
The licensing committee can approve, reject, or modify the proposed application and members of the public are invited to attend the meeting at Scarborough Town Hall.