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Aylesford Village Club has licence suspended for a month after 'unacceptable nuisance'

18:52, 24 September 2019

updated: 19:49, 24 September 2019

A social club is to have its premises certificate suspended for a month after "unacceptable nuisance" at the site, a council has ruled.

Neighbours had applied for a review of Aylesford Village Club's licence after claiming they'd had to endure months of anti-social behaviour.

Aylesford Village Club (16841089)
Aylesford Village Club (16841089)

Scenes of punters swearing, shouting and fighting had intimidated children living on the street, it was claimed in written representations, while there were also complaints over the presence of urine and used condoms on the site.

One neighbour said they had been forced to raise the height of their fence to ensure they were not at eye-level with those in the pub car park, and another even felt she had to padlock her dustbin to railings outside her home to protect it from rowdy drinkers.

Members of the club claimed prior to Friday's meeting they had always addressed neighbours' concerns in the past and said they felt "under attack" by the most recent raft of complaints.

As well as issuing the suspension, which can be appealed over the course of 21 days following the hearing, the Licensing and Appeals Panel imposed a series of conditions upon the club.

Bosses must supply the council's licensing team with revised rules and show evidence of effective staff training, keep all doors and windows closed at all times except for entering and leaving, and implement the Challenge 25 policy and keep a refusals log.

One neighbour padlocked her dustbin to railings over concerns at Aylesford Village Club
One neighbour padlocked her dustbin to railings over concerns at Aylesford Village Club

Neighbour Sara Green, who applied for the review, said: “Concerns have been raised with the various activities of the club before the beginning of the year, with various items such as burning trash and anti-social behaviour outside the property.

"When a club official was approached about this by residents, he was dismissive and abusive to residents.

"We attempted to engage with the club but our concerns and complaints were ignored, leaving residents no other option but to apply for this review.

"We are satisfied with the results of the hearing, which were fair and balanced.

"They were given conditions to abide by, which were more than achievable."

Club trustee Mark Oliver said members would be seeking advice from the council in the coming days before deciding whether to appeal the decision.

Damage alleged to have been caused by members of Aylesford Village Club (17331162)
Damage alleged to have been caused by members of Aylesford Village Club (17331162)

He added: "We're going to have to abide by the decision, but for us it's a serious problem.

"I don't think we'll be able to survive after a month of closure - it would be a nail into our coffin."

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