|
|
 |
| |
School’s midnight booze bid rejected over noise concerns
A HAMPSTEAD independent school’s bid for a midnight alcohol licence has been rejected.
University College School, in Frognal, had hoped to serve booze to guests at events from Monday to Saturday until 11.30pm – with a half-an-hour drinking up time – and until 11pm on Sundays, as part of proposals to open the school up to public functions.
But at a meeting on Wednesday, Town Hall licensing chiefs told them they must first deal with concerns raised by nearby residents.
The school had planned to host a range of events including plays, classical concerts and weddings within its large landscaped grounds. Headteacher Kenneth Durham said he wanted to share its 700-seat great hall and other facilities with the community.
He insisted they had no intention of turning the celebrated private school into a “rave”.
But the school was warned previous events – hosted under a temporary licence – had attracted the ire of neighbours.
Thirty-two objections from residents’ associations, politicians and neighbours were submitted before the hearing.
The licensing panel decided that the school could not be granted permission until neighbours’ concerns about noise and disturbance late into the night were dealt with.
Licensing panel chief Councillor Jonathan Simpson said: “We felt the school needed to address the existing issues and concerns that residents had, and that granting a further licence would aggravate the situation.”
Mr Durham said: “We thought it was a good opportunity to share our resources with a wider community.
“I don’t think we’ll be appealing for the moment because we’ve got enough on our plates with providing education to all our students.” |
 |
|
|
|
| |
| |
|
|
|
