Controversial licence application for Rastrick club given approval

Extra conditions proposed by applicant Colin Hufton convinced councillors to grant him a premises licence for the New Spitfire Club at Green Head Road, Rastrick.

The applications had been opposed by residents, Calderdale Council Environmental Health staff and West Yorkshire Police largely due to concerns about noise and disturbance as it is very close to a number of homes.

In the past, when it was run by various licensees under the names including The Barn, The Rastrick Alehouse and The Spitfire Club, there had been numerous complaints including shouting, screaming, fighting and damage to cars the last time it was licensed.

Calderdale Council’s Licensing Sub-committee members heard the licence had been surrendered in 2013 because of such issues but it was acknowledged Mr Hufton had nothing to do with those days and a different type of venue was proposed this time.

Presenting the case for Mr Hufton, Victoria Thomson said the club would be a members-only club utilising CCTV.

She said Mr Hufton proposed a number of extra possible conditions he was willing to accept in order for the premises licence to be granted.

These included opening and serving hours, limits to times when drinks could be taken outside, removal of outdoor furniture, staff to monitor the outside on a regular basis, patrons being requested to respect neighbours, taxis or private hire vehicles picking up patrons being instructed not to sound their horns, contact numbers for the manager being available to residents at all times the premises were open and earlier times than those requested in the licence.

Although reserving the right to hold music events these would be limited and to reduce noise concerns items to be disposed of outside the premises, and deliveries made, would be done between 9am and 5pm, she said.

She said Mr Hufton a proven track record of managing troublesome premises and turning them around: “He has got a reputation by building a good relationship with local residents, the police and others.”

Councillors decided to take up many of these options and grant the licence after long deliberation.

They had heard Environmental Health officers express serious doubts additional measures could satisfactorily address public nuisance and noise concerns.

They asked questions about the vetting procedures for membership, about how children visiting with their families would be controlled and were sceptical taxis and private hire cars would not sound their horns.

The applicant had expressed the aim that it would be a tea-time club but the hours applied for did not reflect that, they said.

Public nuisance, including noise, remained the police’s main concern, said police licensing officer Lisa Nicholson, with potential noise from the beer garden and smoking area at the front of the club likely to raise similar issues again, in the police’s view.

But councillors agreed to grant the licence allowing the club to serve alcohol from 3pm to 10pm Mondays to Thursdays, from 3pm to 11pm on Fridays and from noon to 11pm on Saturdays and Sundays, with opening hours in step.