Plans for a new Lake District town bar have been met with objections over worsening problem with crime and anti-social behaviour.
The Lake District National Park Authority has been recommended to approve a partial change of use to create the 88-person capacity bar despite objections from the town council over increasing crime and disorder.
Wiltel Limited has asked the authority for a change of use of part of the Laurel Cottage Guest House in Bowness to a bar/drinking establishment.
The authority’s development control committee will decide whether to approve the application on November 5.
Windermere and Bowness Town Council said the application was problematic.
It said: “We recognise the efforts of the licensee to manage the nature of the establishment but plans and attitudes can change.
“This change of use would introduce another public house in the heart of Bowness where there are numerous others and, given that there are already strong linkages between the increasing number of licensed premises in Bowness with crime and disorder – as reported by Cumbria Constabulary in the previous application – this is something we can’t ignore.”
The town council added that anti-social behaviour in the night time economy of Bowness remained a serious problem.
It added: “Ultimately this would be another public house in the heart of Bowness surrounded by numerous other drinking establishments which we feel, is a bar too far.”
However, the town council did add that the development work was sympathetic and well thought out.
There is already a premises licence for the property that allows the public to use the small bar on site.
The plans said: “The proposal would extend the bar area across both floors and remove the guest bedrooms, increasing the capacity well beyond that which currently exist.”
Cumbria police said: “Licensed premises in Bowness are placing a significant strain on limited local policing resources and are contributing to the increase in recorded crime in the area.
“Analysis of this by their local team demonstrates a high proportion of offences have occurred within licensed premises or related to persons who had been patrons immediately before.”
However, according to the meeting’s agenda, the police force no longer objects to the change of use after a meeting with the applicant and a licensing officer.
The force said: “This remains a sensitive issue for the local community.
“Whilst I remain very concerned about the density and capacity of licensed premises in Bowness and the subsequent impact on crime and anti-social behaviour, I believe that if our recommendations are implemented and maintained every reasonable step will have been taken to mitigate this.”
The licensing officer has written to the applicant, saying they are satisfied with a variation to restrict the supply of alcohol to 11am to 1am, seven days a week but with the intention to ordinarily operate between 3pm and 11pm midweek and to midnight on weekends.
This is because it would pose significantly lower risk in terms of crime and disorder than the licence as it stands.
The premises is a Grade-II listed site that dates to either the 17th or 18th century.
Seven letters of support and three letters of objection were also received.
The supportive letters outline new opening hours, fostering a vibrant and sustainable local economy, increased jobs and the current owners’ good track record of operating pubs in the local area as reasons to approve the application.
Noise pollution and anti-social behaviour were given as reasons for objection.
