A pub's application to extend its opening hours has been approved despite fears that it could add to antisocial behaviour issues. An application to extend the opening time at The Admiral Napier on Cowbridge Road East by one hour was approved by Cardiff Council's licensing sub-committee.
The pub, which currently opens at 10am, will now be able to start serving alcohol from 9am every day of the week. Local councillors voiced their objections to the proposal when it was first lodged, with the potential worsening of antisocial behaviour issues in the area being chief among their concerns.
Speaking at the licensing sub-committee meeting on Wednesday September 28, Cardiff Council ward member for Riverside, Councillor Caro Wild, said he wished the pub well and agreed with the representatives of the establishment that "it is a nice environment inside". However, he pointed to the "serious problems" on Cowbridge Road East to do with "drugs and alcohol fuelled" violence and anti-social behaviour.
Read more: ' Many people think Cardiff's anti-social behaviour hit Cowbridge Road East should be made alcohol-free'
He added: "It is spilling out onto the streets from pubs as well as other areas. Adding another hour to drinking in the morning at a time when parents are walking their children to school is just exacerbating the problem. Surely walking your kids to school is something you can do in peace.
"In terms of public nuisance and the prevention of crime, I really do think it goes against those objectives." Cllr Wild also drew the committee's attention to a section of pavement near the pub where the pavement narrows and parents who are walking their children to school have to walk past.
Although not present at the meeting, another ward councillor for Riverside, Councillor Leonora Thomson, also objected to the plans to extend the pub's opening hours. The solicitor representing The Admiral, Alex Green, argued that the proposed time of day for the increased opening hours left little to be concerned about, calling the pub a "safe, nice environment for people to be in".
He said: "The premises has never had issues of antisocial behaviour in the mornings." Mr Green also pointed to other premises and establishments along the road that have earlier opening hours than what they were proposing. He also noted that the police did not make any objections to the application.
He said: "Surely if this was a problematic pub, the police... would have made an objection. The licence already has some robust conditions on it."
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