Agenda item

Greenwood Family Park, Bush Road, Y Felinheli, Gwynedd, LL56 4QN

To consider the application

RESOVLVED: In accordance to the requirements of the Licensing Act 2003, the application was approved, having regard to representations made; and in accordance with the concession on hours of permitted regulated entertainment outdoors agreed between the Public Protection Officer and the applicant.

Conditions: The measures proposed by the applicant in section M of the application to be included as conditions

Licensable Activities

Plays

Indoors

Sunday – Saturday 10:00 - 22:00

Outdoors

Sunday - Saturday 10:00 - 18:00

Live Music

Indoors

Saturday - Sunday 10:00 - 22:00

Outdoors

Saturday - Sunday 10:00 - 18:00

Performance of Dance:

Indoors

Saturday - Sunday 10:00 - 22:00

Outdoors

Saturday - Sunday 10:00 - 18:00

Films

Indoors

Sunday – Saturday 10:00 - 22:00

Outdoors

Sunday - Saturday 10:00 - 18:00

Recorded Music

Indoors

Saturday - Sunday 10:00 - 22:00

Outdoors

Saturday - Sunday 10:00 - 18:00

Supply of Alcohol: Both on and off the Premises

Saturday - Sunday 10:00 - 22:00

Greenwood Family Park, Lôn Llwyn, Y Felinheli, Gwynedd LL56 4QN

Others invited:

· Andrew Baker - Applicant - Greenwood Family Park

· Simon Dale - Greenwood Family Park

· Ffion Muscroft (Public Protection Officer)

· Elisabeth Williams (Licensing Officer, North Wales Police)

· Nest Griffiths - Local Resident

· Stephen Watson-Jones - Local Resident

· Karen Jones - Local Resident

· Andy Hemmings - Local Resident

The Chair welcomed everyone to the meeting.

a) The Licensing Department's Report

Submitted – the report of the Licensing Manager giving details of the application for a premises licence for Greenwood Family Park, Lôn Llwyn, Y Felinheli, Gwynedd, from the applicant, Mr Andrew Baker, General Manager. It was explained that Greenwood Family Park was a popular tourist attraction in Gwynedd and that the site offered a variety of activities as well as glamping accommodation.

An application was made to obtain a licence to sell alcohol (bottled local produce), to serve with meals at their on-site restaurant, as well as selling bottled local produce in the gift shop. It was reiterated that the glamping accommodation was open to guests 7 days a week from the beginning of April until the end of October.

As well as the sale of alcohol for consumption on and off the premises from 10:00 to 22:00, playing live and recorded music, drama and films, dance performances (indoors and outdoors) also until 22:00, 7 days a week, the application also stated an intention to arrange indoor and outdoor performances and dramas in an outdoor theatre area, regularly throughout the year (mainly during the busiest season but also during the period leading up to Christmas), for glamping guests and members of the community, from February until October. It was noted that an amplifier would be used for such entertainment.

It was noted that the Licensing Authority Officers had sufficient evidence that the application had been submitted in accordance with the requirements of the Licensing Act 2003 and the relevant regulations.

Attention was drawn to the responses received during the consultation period. It was noted that North Wales Police or the Fire Authority did not object to the application, but observations on the application were received from the Public Protection Service based on concerns that there was insufficient information in the application which highlighted that the public nuisance objective would not be undermined. In addition, nine letters and e-mails of objection were received from local residents in relation to the Licensing objectives of Public Safety, Public Nuisance and the Protection of Children from Harm. Their observations / concerns referred to an increase in traffic; that live/recorded music until 22:00 would cause a public nuisance; that children could obtain alcohol on the site; that those who had drank alcohol on the site would be likely to leave on foot, and walk along a very narrow and dangerous road.

As a result, the Licensing Authority had recommended approving the application subject to the agreed compromise with the applicant.

b) In considering the application, the following procedure was followed:-

· Members of the Sub-committee were given an opportunity to ask questions of the Council’s representative.

· At the Chair’s discretion, the applicant or his representative to ask questions to the Council’s representative.

· The applicant and/or his representative were invited to expand on the application and to call witnesses.

· Members of the Sub-committee were given the opportunity to ask questions of the applicant and/or his representative.

· At the Chair's discretion, the Council’s representative to ask questions to the applicant or his representative.

· Every Consultee was invited to support any written representations.

· The Council’s representative and the applicant or his representative were given the opportunity to summarise their case.

c) Elaborating on the application, the applicant noted:

· That the intention was to sell alcohol with food at the restaurant and in the gift shop.

· That there was a poor choice of local produce at the shop - needed to improve this.

· They were considering holding weddings in the future - the tourism sector had faced challenges during Covid and were therefore looking for ways to create an additional income to meet maintenance costs. There was a large barn on the site, therefore they wished to consider this as an option for the future.

· That the relationship with neighbours was a priority.

· That there was an intention to serve alcohol with food in the restaurant until 22:00 - this was for glampers only.

· That the park was a family park - did not want any conflict with local residents.

In response to a question from the Solicitor regarding the opening hours, it was confirmed that the park opened from 10:00 until 17:30, but was operational until 18:00 - these were the core hours. There was no intention to open the park until 22:00 - this was an application for indoor events only. He reiterated that it would be possible to open the park until 22:00 without licensable activities under the existing licence, should there be a wish to do so.

In response to a question regarding the capacity of the park should approving the application increase the daily numbers, the applicant noted that approving the application would not have a huge impact on numbers - that the park's capacity was around 2000 a day and during 2023, the numbers, at the busiest times, had only reached 1400.

ch) The consultee in attendance took the opportunity to expand on the observations that were submitted in written form by them. Attention was drawn to the observations submitted by the consultees who were not in attendance.

Ffion Muscroft (Public Protection Officer)

· That she had originally objected to the application due to concerns about an increase in noise for nearby residents, 7 days a week, and a suggestion that many events would be held, e.g. films, dramas, live music, dance performances, etc., until 22:00.

· E-mails had gone back and forth with the applicant, seeking further information on managing event noise at night.

· Although the company had no intention to hold regular events, 7 days a week until 22:00, the licence would allow this.

· As a result of this concern, the applicant agreed that live and recorded music, outdoor dramas and films would finish at 18:00.

· Was happy with the applicant's willingness to compromise, and therefore she withdrew her objection.

Elizabeth Williams (Licensing Officer, North Wales Police)

· No complaints about offences, and therefore no objection to the application.

Stephen Watson-Jones (local resident)

· That he and his family earned a living through the tourism industry.

· Initial concern that noise coming from the Park, late at night, would disturb his visitors - this was their main source of income.

· 'Peace, tranquillity and a clear sky' were noted as the main qualities of staying at the barn in his visitor book - he wanted to retain these qualities.

· That an increase in traffic was also a concern.

· Thanked the applicant for adapting the hours.

Karen Jones (local resident)

· Welcomed the modified hours.

· Could not understand why adults would wish to drink during the day in a family park.

· That promoting local produce was good news.

· That glamping customers brought their own alcohol with them.

· There was a need to avoid public nuisance - people stirring trouble, knocking on car doors, etc.

Andy Hemmings (local resident)

· That closing the park to outdoor activities at 18:00 was a good outcome.

· Genuine concern about noise at night - holding events would lead to an increase in noise.

· If they wanted to hold weddings - this was not the best location. The park was surrounded by narrow, unlit lanes - this increased the risk to drivers and other road users.

Nest Griffiths (local resident)

· That she lived close to the park.

· That she had submitted observations in response to the original proposal of the park remaining open until 22:00 - concerns about noise and traffic levels.

· Although she was used to the noise during the day, she did not want noise at night as well.

· Opening until 22:00 would change the feel of the quiet area which surrounded the park and would lead to the creation of public nuisance.

· Narrow, single-track roads led to the park.

· Congratulated the park on its astounding success, but if the hours increased then this would increase the risk in terms of ensuring the safety of the public / local residents.

· Whilst accepting the compromise of closing at 18:00, suggested closing at 17:30 so that everyone had left by 18:00, and the roads would be safe.

· Hoped that alcohol would not cause additional problems.

d) Taking advantage of the right to conclude their case, the applicant noted

· that the park's hours of operation were 10:00 - 18:00 (closed at 17:30, which gave visitors half an hour to leave)

· That he was ready to cooperate and engage with the local community

· That there was an aspiration to develop the park in the future

· That the licence was being modified to sell alcohol within the opening hours

dd) Taking advantage of the opportunity to summarise her case, the Licensing Manager noted that she was happy with the applicant's comments and commitment to reduce the opening hours back to 18:00. She reiterated that she hoped that the compromise mitigated the concerns of nearby residents regarding the prevention of public nuisance.

e) All parties were thanked for making representations on the application.

The respondents and the Licensing Manager withdrew from the meeting while the Sub-committee members discussed the application.

In reaching its decision, the Sub-committee considered the applicant's application form along with written observations submitted by interested parties, the Licensing Officer's report, and the verbal representations from each party at the hearing. The Council's Licensing Policy and Home Office guidelines were considered. The Sub-committee gave due consideration to all the representations and weighed these up against the licensing objectives under the Licensing Act 2003, namely:

i. Prevention of crime and disorder

ii. Prevention of public nuisance

iii. Ensuring public safety

iv. Protection of children from harm

Representations submitted which were irrelevant to the above objectives were disregarded.

RESOLVED: In accordance with the requirements of the Licensing Act 2003, the application was approved considering the comments made, and in accordance with the compromise on the hours of regulated entertainment permitted that was agreed between the Public Protection Officer and the applicant.

Licensable Activities

Dramas

Indoors