CONCERNED residents have been assured that Petersfield’s Open Air Swimming Pool will not become a nightclub after being granted a licence to serve alcohol.
Pool trustees had cause to raise a glass of their own on June 22 after their application for a premises licence was approved by East Hampshire District Council (EHDC).
The decision by the licensing sub-committee means trustees can legally hold events at the pool until 1am on some nights of the week, as well as airing live and recorded music and the showing of films.
The application was opposed by some neighbours as they feared it would turn the pool into an “outdoor nightclub”.
Concerns were also raised that approval could lead to more noise, inappropriate, drunken and raucous behaviour while some feared the combination of water and alcohol could lead to drowning incidents.
Chairwoman of the pool trustees Linda Knutsen was quick to dispel these concerns when she addressed the committee at Penns Place. She said the application had been submitted to negate the need for temporary licences, as the pool occasionally holds private events.
Temporary licences also incur a charge and trustees decided to apply for long hours to give prospective hirers the most flexibility.
Mrs Knutsen stressed to the panel the pool would not become a nightclub and that dancing and loud bands would not be permitted.
She also assured councillors people would be monitored to ensure they did not leave the pool with alcohol, adding that unruly or drunken people would not be admitted.
Chris Barnes, an interested resident, told the committee that he still had concerns about possible noise, as most of the pool’s neighbours are aged 60 and above, but was otherwise satisfied. He felt that pool bosses didn’t take a previous complaint seriously – when he was unhappy about the noise created during a synchronised swimming event several years ago – and he was worried this pattern would be repeated.
Another complainant, Philip Cowley, claimed the application was invalid due to the font and size of the notices not being the correct size, but this was dismissed by the district council’s licensing officer.
Members were impressed by the assurances given by Mrs Knutsen and the manager when they approved the application.
But conditions were made and appropriately trained lifeguards must be on poolside duty when events involving alcohol take place.
Members also want training packages to be put in place for staff with strong attention to identity verification and the refusal of sales to drunk persons.