Licensing System not Working
Recent applications for temporary licences have exposed deep flaws in the planning and licensing laws, says Cllr Julie Morris, leader of the opposition on Epsom & Ewell Borough Council. Whereas the public expects the Planners, the Licensing Department and the Police to work together, current legislation requires Planning and Licensing to be considered in such an independent manner, that applicants are apparently trying to use one to override the other, with the Council hamstrung in its attempts to do anything to protect town centre residents. Some already suffer from noise and anti-social behaviour into the early hours at weekends. Using the system in this way could allow opening hours to ratchet up towards 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Cllr Morris cites a recent application for a temporary licence over Christmas by a food outlet in the town centre that wants to open until 3am. The same establishment has had planning permission to open until this time refused. The Police are the only authority that can o
