Haddon Hall licence applications

Many residents will be aware that licence applications have been submitted for a restaurant, hot-food takeaway, alcohol sales and entertainment at the Haddon Hall. There is local concern because this venue is located in a residential area and has previously been associated with late-night noise and public disturbance. There are full details of the application on the Leeds City Council website.

Cllr John Illingworth with a Labour Campaign Team outside the Haddon Hall

The applications came before Leeds City Council licensing sub-committee on 6 December 2010, but the applicant did not attend the meeting so the hearing was deferred until 10am on Monday 10 January 2011, in Leeds Civic Hall. Once again the applicant failed to attend, so the licence application was considered in his absence.

Cllr John Illingworth spoke first on behalf of local residents. He pointed out that this is a residential area, and included families with young children as well as retired people, students and young professional workers. Some of their children attended Kirkstall Valley Primary School, where he served as a school governor. Several local restaurants closed about 10pm to avoid noise complaints, and those that stayed open later were mainly near the Cardigan Fields development and further away from houses. He said that residents had told the Kirkstall councillors that they quite liked the Costcutter shop and didn't mind about the daytime and early evening use but they were "getting it from both ends" with this scheme. Not only were the licensed premises previously associated with late night noise and anti-social behaviour, but the mini-market took deliveries from about 6:30am with hoist motors and rattling trolleys, doors banging and diesels running. Local people were pointing out that everybody is entitled to a good night’s sleep. In the absence of the applicant, Cllr Illingworth asked that the application should not be amended but simply refused.

The Police objected to the application because the applicant has numerous alcohol-related convictions. The Police indicated that they would withdraw their objection if any licences were immediately transferred to the designated premises supervisor, who had a clean record. In the event this was not an option because the neither the applicant nor his supervisor were present. The Police therefore agreed with Cllr Illingworth that the application should be refused.

Application refused!

The Committee considered these representations in private and agreed to refuse the present application. Click here to download the official decision notice (three pages). This was an easy application to refuse, and it was the correct decision in this case. It is, of course, open for another person to make an independent application at a later date, and this may not be so easy to turn down.

The restaurant and take away already have planning permission, because such consent is linked to the buildings rather than a particular operator. Several local residents made individual objections, and the Kirkstall councillors were representing local people who had objected but wre unable to attend the meeting. We do not have a totally free hand when objecting because license conditions often reflect the existing planning consent. Hours for the planning consent run until 11:30pm from Monday to Saturday and 11pm on Sundays. Environmental Health officers will seek licence conditions with strong noise restrictions and also specify that the car park must be completely cleared before closing times. Kirkstall councillors therefore argue that there should be no late night refreshment and that any drinks and entertainment licences should finish (at the very latest) by 11pm sharp Monday to Saturday and 10:30pm on Sundays, so that customers clear the car park by the required times.

This is not ideal, but it may be the best compromise we can negotiate. Haddon Hall used to be a pub, and some other local businesses stay open later. Some local residents want to eat out and do not support early closing. It all comes down to enforcement – if the Council officers and the Police do their jobs, and the venue closes promptly, then it should be acceptable. Kirkstall councillors will keep an eye on this.

Last updated 17 January 2011 at 13:05. Back to the top