CONCERNS have been raised about a retail unit being transformed into a wine bar.

South Lakeland District Council’s Licensing Sub-Committee granted premises licence to the proposed wine bar in unit 6, St Martin’s Parade, Bowness, last week.

The committee granted the licence with several conditions.

Conditions included staff ensuring that the outside area is kept free from litter, patrons will not be permitted to take drinks or glass containers with them outside, the premises licence holder shall ensure that any patrons smoking outside the premises do so in an ‘orderly manner’ and are supervised by staff to ensure there is no public nuisance, notices shall be ‘prominently’ displayed at any area used for smoking requesting patrons to respect the needs of local residents and use the area quietly, any staff employed at the premises will be provided with training on safety and security and on a regular basis thereafter, CCTV shall be provided, all the premises’ external lights should be down lighted and the premises shall join the local Barwatch scheme.

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The unit has been unoccupied for seven years and there is planning permission in place for a food and drink retail unit, according to council documents regarding the licence application.

In the documents, the applicant, William Whittaker, states: “The business would operate as a wine bar serving small plates and sharing platters alongside a range of good quality wines and beers.

“The maximum capacity would be approximately 50 with seating provided for customers.

“No outside space is available.

“Parking is available in the near vicinity.

“Soft unamplified background music will be played during operating hours.”

However, residents and Windermere and Bowness Town Council have concerns about the plan, including noise- with the unit being directly below occupied flats- and the ‘increasing number of bars’ in the town.

Mayor of Bowness and Windermere Adrian Legge said the council was ‘disappointed’ with the decision.

“Our Planning Sub-Committee recommended refusal of a premises licence, mainly because of the close proximity of residential accommodation,” he said.

“Councillors have raised concerns about the cumulative impact of an increasing number of bars in Windermere and Bowness.”

In representations submitted for the committee to consider one person said: “Children that live above will have no sleep from the disturbance of noise created.”

Another said: “It will be detrimental to all who reside immediately above and close by destroying a quiet, attractive area.”

Another resident said: “The addition of a licensed premises to a residential block will cause a great disturbance to myself and my two 6-year-old daughters.

“My fear is that intoxicated people inside and outside the premises will cause a disturbance throughout the opening hours and beyond.”

And another said: “Alcohol mixed with emotions often leads to fights, I do not think it is acceptable to feel frightened in my own home. I consider that it is wholly inappropriate for a bar to operate below a number of residential dwellings.”

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