BACKGROUND TO THE NEWS: “CRYSTAL PALACE KNOWN FOR PARKING STRESS”
PARKING IS a major concern in Crystal Palace, the hearing heard.
“Crystal Palace is known for parking stress” said Francis Bernstein. “It’s all very well saying you can drop people off in Milestone Road. “There are no public car parks.
“Each time there had been a large scale event at 25 Church Road there had been problems with traffic and parking.
“They may have to work with police. “There were major problems that night.
“Whenever a bus stops outside you’re reliant on double yellow lines to make sure cars can go past. “That road was back to back parking.”
He said a sign had been flashed up saying police were outside and people left. “50 minutes after the event a police car came up with flashing lights and had to wait until the bus moved on.
“We strongly recommend to the licensing committee a special study to understand what the impact of this licence will have for parking and transport.”
Answering questions from the three-person committee Mr Adeolu Aluko said the biggest event they had staged was for 900 which they held at the end of the year. “We transport them but this was our own event.”
Mr Bernstein asked where the minibuses stopped when KICC held their own event. Mr Aluko: “In Milestone Road. “For all our events so we’re all together as a family to go into the New Year together.
Mr Bernstein: “You advertise you have parking for events.”
Mr Aluko: “No we haven’t.”
Mr Bernstein: “On your website right now. “You check: limited parking.”
Mr Aluko: “Limited parking, yes. “It doesn’t state a figure.”
Mr Bernstein: “It will be the largest event space in Bromley.”
Mr Aluko: “Around the venue there’s free parking. “As long as people don’t park on double yellow lines or block exits you’re not breaking the law. “We have never stipulated we have parking on the premises.”
Mr Bernstein: “At the last two events you had parking blocking the exit.” (At this point a legal officer interrupted and said the highways authority would deal with that.)
Mr Bernstein said vehicles regularly blocked the fire exits at the rear of the building. Team lead icensing officer Stephen Phillips said the fire brigade had made two visits, one during a performance, and were completely satisfied there were no issues to raise.
“The only places which needed to be kept clear were the exit routes. “It’s like saying ‘There’s a pub on the high street and there’s a delivery van parked outside.’,”
At this stage someone said: “Maybe it was someone else’s car. “How do you know it prevented people escaping the building safely?”
Mr Phillips told the hearing:”A premises fire risk assessment should ensure all spaces are clear before the public come on board. that would be a management issue. “The fire authority would address it. “The committee can’t say ‘you must keep parking spaces clear’ because the fire authority allows that.”
News From Crystal Palace understands that in at least two other London boroughs parking is a consideration when licence applications are made.
IN LAMBETH: Licensing Act 2003 Statement of Licensing Policy 2011-2014 from Lambeth
http://www.lambeth.gov.uk/sites/default/files/brl-statement-of-licensing-policy-2011-14.pdf
11.1 When considering whether any licensed activity should be permitted, the council will assess the likelihood of it causing unacceptable adverse impact, particularly on local residents, by considering all following factors and other relevant matters:
a) the type of use, the number of customers likely to attend the premises and the likely behaviour of customers at the time of the application; b) the proposed hours of operation; c) the level of public transport accessibility for customers either arriving or leaving the premises and the likely means of public or private transport that will be used by the customers; d) the means of access to the premises which should have customer entrances and exits on the principal pedestrian routes;
e) the level of likely car parking demand on surrounding residential streets and on roads forming part of the Strategic London Road Network or the London Bus Priority Network and its effect on local residents, in comparison with the existing situation; and the effect on residential parking and the movement of priority traffic; f) the cumulative effect of licensed premises in an area. In judging the effect on residents of a particular activity the Council will take into account any affect that is already occurring as a result of other licensed premises.
This consideration will apply irrespective of any special policy which may be adopted of refusing licences in certain areas because of cumulative impact; g) the scope for mitigating any impact; h) how often the activity occurs. and, in considering any application in respect of premises that are already licensed, the council will take into account any evidence: i) of past demonstrable adverse impact from the activity especially on local residents;
or j) that the activity has caused a demonstrably unacceptable level of car parking in surrounding residential streets or on roads forming part of the Strategic London Road Network or the London Bus Priority Network; and k) that, if adverse impact has been caused, appropriate measures have been agreed and put into effect by the applicant to mitigate the adverse impact.
Reasons:
d) The main impact of customers arriving, queuing and leaving should be confined to principal pedestrian routes as far as possible. It would not be appropriate, for instance, to have licensed activities which caused large numbers of people to exit into a residential area as opposed to a situation where pedestrian movement takes place directly to and from nearby public transport services.
e) Car parking by customers of licensed activities can be a serious problem. This affects local residents in terms of noise and road safety, particularly after the hours when controlled parking zones are in operation. It can also affect the movement of essential traffic on primary routes and delay bus services. When considering the possible impact on residents, the Council will look at the area within which the impact could be experienced in particular the likely distance at which most customers arriving by car would seek to park. The potential parking area for major entertainments can be substantial.
f) Licensing law is not the primary mechanism for the general control of nuisance and antisocial behaviour by individuals once they are away from the licensed premises and therefore beyond the direct control of the licensee. Nonetheless it is a key aspect of such control and will be part of a holistic approach to the management of the evening and nighttime economy. In accordance with Government advice the decisions taken by the council in respect of individual licence applications will be focused on matters within the control of individual licensees and others granted relevant permissions and the steps they can take to achieve the licensing objectives. Accordingly, these matters will centre on the premises and places being used for licensable activities and the likely impact of those activities on members of public living, working or engaged in normal activity in the area concerned.
IN ISLINGTON: Licensing Policy 2013-2017
100. Applicants for new licences and those wishing to increase their operational hours or the capacity of their premises will need to demonstrate that due consideration has been given to arrangements for the quick, safe and quiet dispersal of customers from their venues.
The fact that car parking facilities are limited and heavily restricted should be communicated to prospective customers at every opportunity. Emphasis should be on the promotion of the use of public transport or other modes of transport.
23 Islington has one of the highest densities of licensed premises in England. As there is no delineation between residential and commercial areas, this needs careful management and may result in conflicts between the different uses.
In considering applications for new licences, variations to existing licences and licence reviews, following the receipt of relevant representations, the Licensing Authority will take the matters listed below into account.
These criteria will apply in different ways, to different types of premises and licensable activities, in the following order: • whether the premises is located in an area of cumulative impact; • whether the premises is located in an area of special interest; • the type of premises and their cumulative impact upon the area and the mix of premises in the area; • the location of the premises and character of the area; • the views of responsible authorities; • the views of interested parties; • past compliance history of current management; • the proposed hours of operation; (etc – Ed.)
