'Public disturbance' fears over Hartlepool guest house's alcohol licence bid

An application has been submitted by Lee Pennick to allow the Hartlepool premises to sell alcohol from 9am until 11pm seven days a week.

Trinity Guest House, in Church Street, Seaton Carew, has a licence to sell alcohol from 5.30pm to 10.30pm from Mondays-Saturdays and from noon-4.30pm on Sundays.

However 10 objections to the move have been submitted from residents living in the area over concerns it could lead to increased noise and nuisance in the area.

The application will therefore go before a meeting of Hartlepool Borough Council’s licensing sub-committee next week for councillors to debate.

A report from Sylvia Pinkney, council assistant director for regulatory services, ahead of the meeting notes there is a condition on the current licence stating “alcohol shall only be supplied as part of a table meal”.

She adds the applicant has not requested this condition be removed and that any breach of a licence condition is a criminal offence.

The application from Mr Pennick states he would continue to ensure the site complies with all licensing objectives if they are granted the extended hours.

However objectors have raised concerns the increased hours could lead to “public disturbance”.

One Seaton Carew resident said in their objection: “This area is primarily a residential area with people working shifts and early hours.

“I understand that 30 minutes can appear to be a short space of time, but when customers are intoxicated, that 30 minutes can easily be surpassed, not to mention the noise created.

“With people vacating at 11pm it has the potential to cause disruption even into early hours of the morning.”

Other residents also raised concerns how families and young children live in the area.

One said: “This will cause us serious mental health problems if we need to deal with late night drunken punters as this was not an issue when we moved to the street.”

No objections have been raised by either police or council officers.

Councillors will hold the hearing over the application virtually on Tuesday, April 27, from 10am, when a decision will then be made.

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