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Nightclub to stay open to 4am
CASHMERE nightclub will be allowed to open until 4am on Friday and Saturday nights despite warnings from the police that extended hours will lead to more trouble.
The decision to grant the licence extension came after a six-hour meeting of Berwick Borough Council's licensing sub-committee last Thursday.
The application from Cashmere's owner Zafer Saygilier was for extended opening hours to 4am every night of the week, but the sub-committee of councillors Jennifer Waterhouse, David Donaldson and John Davidson opted to approve the extension for Fridays, Saturdays, and on Sundays on Bank Holiday weekends.
The club will be restricted to just 200 occupants after 2am, the current closing time, and signs will be erected to make customers aware that they can book taxis through the club's staff. Cashmere will also have to give the police 28 days notice of their intention to open until 4am.
Mark Butson, representing Mr Saygilier told the committee that licensing laws could not hold Cashmere responsible for the behaviour of customers outwith the premises, adding that door staff had been praised by police for assisting in a number of incidents in Golden Square in the past, possibly even saving the lives of officers on one occasion.
He said: "Mr Saygilier's premises are largely devoted to dance, not devoted to people coming in to drink large quantities of alcohol. He thinks he is not going to contribute anything harmful to the community."
Graham Duff, counsel for Northumbria Police told the committee: "In Berwick, the inevitable consequence of extended hours will be more trouble, and at a time, 3 or 4am, when any sort of trouble constitutes an additional aggravating feature."
He added: "The subtext to our submission is, 'the situation is bad enough, please don't make it worse'."
Inspector Martin Baylis also spoke at the meeting, and described the current situation in terms of incidents the police have to deal with in the town at weekends.
He said: "It is a serious problem on Saturday nights in particular, and range from a situation where two lads throw some punches to someone being killed or police officers being injured."
Two local residents also objected to the application for the extended opening hours. Janet Clare-Dean wrote: "For those of us who live in the centre of town, the noise and disturbance is already interfering with our sleep and living conditions, particularly at weekends.
"It is very common on a Friday and Saturday to be kept awake until 3am or longer due to the screams of individuals in the street. General problems also include stones being thrown at windows by drunks who have lost their way, doorbells rung and congregating groups under the Town Hall."
She added: "It is often the case that on opening the front door in the morning vomit and deposits from the evening activities have to be cleaned up."
Local resident Barbara Herdman also objected, stating that crowds of late night revellers were 'unpleasant and frightening'.
In a written objection to the application, Chief Insp Simon Packham of Northumberland Area Command, said: "The police hold the opinion that if the application is granted the general public and neighouring residents are highly likely to suffer as a result."
He added: "The application potentially places large numbers of people outside the establishment, where the limited numbers of taxi firms would struggle to cope with the demand between the hours of 4 and 5am.
"It is the experience of the police that when large numbers of people, who are under the influence of alcohol, linger for too long in one area violent disputes often ensue."
This was also backed up by Insp Baylis, who said: "Crime and disorder will, and that's the practicality of it, increase because of the fact that you allow more time for more alcohol to be consumed."
He added that Golden Square had been identified as a 'hot spot' for alcohol related incidents and it is where most police resources are targeted in the early hours of weekends. Insp Baylis also emphasised that police resources were stretched at that time, and that an extension of licensing hours could seriously affect shift changes and officers' ability to adhere to working time regulations.
Mr Butson countered, saying: "Surely, given the resources Northumbria Police have, they would be able to deal with two extra hours. Police resources are not finite. They are allocated depending on their requirement.
"The police will have to change policy and approach, and the level of disturbance will be no more than it is now."
In his closing submission, Mr Butson said: "There has been a very limited number of representations handed in to the committee. From that you can draw the inevitable conclusion that there is no groundswell of opinion about the premises extending their hours. There is a complete lack of any real motivation of anyone to say anything about it."
He added: "Mr Saygilier's view is that disorder is simply not going to arise."
Mr Duff, presenting his closing submission urged the committee to take into account the 'aggravating effect' of increased alcohol consumption in the town, and the resulting impact on crime and disorder and public nuisance.
In returning the decision, chair of the licensing committee, Coun Waterhouse said: "The committee have agreed the extension. We feel we were not given enough evidence that crime and disorder and public nuisance would increase."
Coun Waterhouse added that the committee hoped Mr Saygilier would maintain his good relationship with Northumbria Police.
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Think of how stupid the average person is, and realize half of them are stupider than that.
George Carlin
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