A VOLUNTEER-run community charity has won the right to sell alcohol and play live music on family fundraising events at its playing field pavilion.
South Gloucestershire Council’s licensing sub-committee approved an application by Beesmoor Road Playing Field in Frampton Cotterell for a premises licence to serve alcohol on any day from 11am to 10pm.
But councillors imposed several conditions, including limiting events to no more than 12 per year.
The committee also asked to play live and recorded music indoors and outdoors from 11am until 9pm but the panel restricted this to Fridays and Saturdays only.
There were two objections, with one resident writing that the playing field had been a focus at times for drug-taking and that the wooden play area – which the committee maintains – had been vandalised.
They said the application could increase alcohol-related antisocial behaviour and drug problems.
But no objections were made by police or environmental health.
Avon & Somerset Police licensing officer Wes Hussey told the hearing last Thursday: “We have a number of similar venues like this throughout South Glos, small pavilions in playing fields that run local community events and are run really well.
“I’ve spoken to the local beat manager and he has no concerns.
“They do get a bit of occasional antisocial behaviour but that’s like most areas.”
Beesmoor Road Playing Field treasurer Phil Kerswell told the sub-committee the field was bought by public subscription several years ago and given to villagers as a public amenity.
He said: “I’m one of 12 unpaid volunteers. We fundraise and run the whole thing.
“We do get money from Frampton Cotterell Parish Council and a few other donations but we’re trying to bring it more into life.”
Mr Kerswell said the pavilion was very run-down but was used as a small cafe, football changing rooms and toilets.
He said a premises licence would be useful for future events, such as a Christmas fair selling mulled wine.
The treasurer said the charity applied for the licence seven days a week to give them flexibility to hold events like a summer picnic when the weather would be good and that they would be happy to limit the number of events per year.
Mr Kerswell said: “If we can sell some alcohol, that will help us raise money.
“The whole point of what we want to do is to open up the pavilion to wider use.
“There is a community there and they want something they can come to.”
He said the pavilion faced away from the closest houses and out onto the open field, where people could sit outside having been served inside.
Mr Kerswell said: “Regarding the objections, I do understand how people feel and we haven’t communicated quite well enough.
“We don’t want to have a club open Friday and Saturday night playing loud music.
“We’re not planning to sell spirits; we’re talking about mulled wine, Prosecco, beer.
“We don’t want a club licence, what we want to do is be able to sell mulled wine and beer occasionally.”
The sub-committee also imposed conditions that all alcohol must be served in a plastic or biodegradable cup and that it could not be taken into the children’s play area.
Other licensing conditions, such as Challenge 25, were agreed beforehand with the police.
By Adam Postans, Local Democracy Reporting Service