Liquor and entertainment licensing
Noise, late night liquor licensing and antisocial behaviour in Salisbury City Centre

This is a problem which we have been debating in Salisbury for at least the past decade.

My duty is also to consider the interests of the majority of people of Salisbury District who live outside Salisbury but many of whom wish to travel into central Salisbury for recreation and entertainment. It is also my duty to take a national view of the issues and I do this in the forum of Parliament.

The previous Conservative Government set out to simplify liquor and entertainment licensing and they accepted the evidence that longer hours tends to make for better behaviour and it avoids the problems associated with a comparatively "chucking out time". Of course there was much unfinished business - and the Labour Government is proposing a further relaxation of the licensing laws.

Locally, about two years ago I became painfully aware because of disputes and disagreements which are still continuing, that the right hand did not know what the left hand was doing. I summoned a meeting, which I chaired at Divisional Policy Headquarters in Wilton Road, of those concerned with licensing matters from the police, the District Council (including the Planning Department), the Chairman and Clerk of the Bench of Magistrates and the Licensing Magistrates. Believe it or not, this was the first time they had ever met together to consider the licensing issues facing the city. At the meeting there was some quite heated disagreement about the application of existing law. I found this astonishing. No wonder we were in a bit of a mess! I am glad to report that now the various authorities work very well together.

There will always be conflicts of interest when it comes to planning and licensing - and that is why we have politicians who must make judgements on behalf of their electors. In Salisbury, the policies of the present administration have, on the one hand, encouraged people to come back and live in the city centre. Hence the developments at the Maltings and the old General Infirmary sites.

On the other hand, they have also encouraged what they describe as "the café society" - that is increasing leisure and entertainment in the city centre which has been pedestrianised for the purpose. Hence the conflict.

I am very familiar with the problem on the streets. From time to time I accompany Wiltshire Constabulary on their late night patrols at weekends so I really do know at first hand how it looks from the police's point of view when hundreds of young people in various states of intoxication mill about between the ever-growing range of leisure establishments in the centre of the city.

One of the problems is that Councillors sitting on the Licensing Panel are increasingly faced by hybrid applications - that is, establishments which are neither pubs nor nightclubs. I think the Licensing Panel has been broadly correct not to automatically grant licences up front - but to ensure that applicants should effectively go on probation until they have proved they can be good citizens and good neighbours and have earned their reputation rather than bought it. A typical example would be permission to restrict opening hours to no later than midnight - with a review in a year's time. It remains an anomaly that whilst Licensing Magistrates issue liquor licences, elected Councillors have to issue the Entertainment Licences. This is not particularly helpful unless the two authorities work very closely indeed.

Parliament has addressed the issue of 'bouncers' and I believe it is the case that Salisbury Police in general get on well with the door-keepers at the various establishments. After all, it is entirely in the interests of those establishments that their bouncers should have been to charm school and that they know how to encourage their customers to behave properly in the streets as well as on the premises.

Then we come to the issue which has probably the greatest impact on city centre residents - noise. The planning authority already has it in its power to demand a very high level of soundproofing to any new building. Open a door - or a window in summer - and the noise in the street can be deafening. It can also be deafening off the street but within the Chequers where other people live. If some people wish to ensure that they are deaf early in life then, although I regret it, that is a matter for them. However, there is absolutely no excuse why other people's lives should be made a misery by music they do not wish to listen to but cannot avoid. I call it music, but what generally causes the trouble is the 'thump, thump, thump' which knows no barriers or boundaries. Personally, I believe local authorities should have even tougher powers in respect of music.

Then there is the question of intimidation on the streets. If you are young, have had a few drinks and are thoroughly enjoying yourself with large groups of friends, then you do not intentionally set out to frighten people who might be sharing the same street - but that is the effect as far as other people are concerned. Single women of all ages feel intimidated in central Salisbury in a way which is quite unacceptable. But it is not just single women - it is families and single men as well. There may be no criminal intent but ordinary people going about their business feel threatened - and this is unacceptable. I would certainly support a larger uniformed police presence in central Salisbury, especially at weekends, to act as a deterrent. I might add that this is also a real problem in Amesbury. Fortunately the Military Police and the Ministry of Defence Police cooperate closely with the Wiltshire Constabulary and the presence of their patrol vehicles throughout South Wiltshire is very welcome.

Finally, may I say that I believe the adverse effects I have discussed are exacerbated if, in addition to alcohol, other drugs such as cannabis, amphetamines or worse, are available and used in central Salisbury. I remain wholly opposed to any attempts to de-criminalise drugs (except possibly cannabis for medical purposes).

I hope you will feel that we do share a common objective of improving the quality of life for those who both live in the centre of the city and who seek entertainment there.

I have a personal interest in this, too, since I live within 50 yards of the Rose and Crown in Harnham - and I also receive regular complaints from my neighbours who are woken up around 4.00 am by revellers wending their way home after the last clubs have shut!