'Yes' to Licensing Policy

I am delighted to report that last night St Edmundsbury Council voted for a Special Licensing Policy in the area bound by and each side of Abbeygate, Guildhall, Westgate and Crown Streets, something that fellow councillor Richard Rout and I have been campaigning for since February.

Any new application for a licence, or substantial variation, if objected to, will involve the applicant having to show that it will not add to the cumulative effect. In reality I believe this will mean that a new restaurant or bar wanting a licence to, say, midnight is likely to be acceptable, but an extension to 2am may not be.

We hope this will strike the right balance among the needs of residents, visitors, businesses and the evening economy.