Morality and nuisance concerns raised by parish council as The Red Lodge Millennium Centre, in Lavender Close, seeks licence expansion

Morality and nuisance concerns were raised by a local council as a community centre is seeking a licence expansion.

The Red Lodge Millennium Centre, in Lavender Close, is due to present its bid to expand its allowed activities to include plays, films, indoor sporting events and boxing or wrestling.

The application, due to be presented to members of West Suffolk’s licensing and regulatory sub-committee on Monday, also includes an extension of its opening hours from 8am every day and up to 11pm or 1am, depending on the activity.

The new licence would replace the existing two licences which apply to the bar area and the rest of the site separately.

But Red Lodge Parish Council has levelled strong words at the plans and ‘vehemently objects’ to the application on the grounds of nuisance, immoral purposes and it being a substantial variation to the current licensed activities.

The parish council’s objection states: “The Millennium Centre Charity hosts entertainment which is inappropriate for a building, which is identified as a community centre, such as striptease shows which could be regarded as offensive and beer festivals which are not appropriate for a community centre either and promote an undesirable culture.

“These events are inappropriate to be held in a building owned and associated with local government.

“The variation of the licence would negatively impact the village of Red Lodge in numerous ways which negate any benefits that this variation may offer.”

The objection goes on to add the centre is in close proximity to nearby homes, with a complaint being dealt with to do with an ongoing noise and nuisance problem which left the resident ‘greatly impacted’.

The officer’s report states, however, that issues other than public nuisance do not fall within the licensing criteria and no complaints of this had been received.

It also adds the parish council was made aware of the applicant’s agreement to conditions set by both the police and the environmental health team, but did not withdraw the objection.

The conditions include closing doors and windows during regulated entertainment, noise and vibrations to remain unnoticeable at the boundary of any noise sensitive premises and hourly noise assessments during outdoor events.