The Special Licensing Sub Committee is scheduled to consider an application for a new premises licence for New River Sports & Fitness. This application has generated significant public interest, with numerous objections received from local residents and organisations.

Application for a New Premises Licence at New River Sports & Fitness

The primary item scheduled for discussion is an application for a new premises licence for New River Sports & Fitness (Main Site), located at White Hart Lane, Wood Green, London N22 5QW. The application, submitted by Lee Creightney on behalf of the London Borough of Haringey Leisure Services, seeks authorisation for various licensable activities, including live and recorded music, late-night refreshment, and the supply of alcohol. The proposed hours for these activities are extensive, with the premises open to the public from early morning until late evening on weekdays and weekends.

The report pack details that outdoor sporting events are not licensable activities under the Licensing Act 2003. However, indoor sporting events staged before an audience, or where other licensable activities such as alcohol sales or amplified music occur, may require licensing. The application specifically seeks to allow live music indoors and outdoors, recorded music indoors and outdoors, late-night refreshment, and the supply of alcohol for consumption on the premises. The proposed hours for these activities have been subject to agreement with the Metropolitan Police, resulting in slightly reduced timings.

A significant aspect of the application relates to the potential for large-scale events, with a capacity of up to 2,000 people proposed for the main stadium pitch on up to five days per year. These larger events would require authorisation under a premises licence due to exceeding deregulation thresholds.

The application has attracted numerous representations, primarily objections, from local residents and organisations. These objections centre on the potential for public nuisance, particularly noise pollution from amplified music and crowd noise, which residents state is already audible in their homes and gardens, even with double glazing. Many residents also cite existing planning permission HGY/2014/0053, specifically Condition 14, which states that At no time shall any amplified speech or music generated from the site be audible within the adjoining residential premises. Concerns have been raised that this condition is already being breached.

Further objections relate to public safety, citing increased traffic and parking congestion on narrow residential streets, potential risks to pedestrians and school children, and the inadequacy of the site's infrastructure to manage crowds of up to 2,000 people. Concerns about the protection of children from harm are also raised due to the proximity of the venue to schools and nurseries, and the potential for increased anti-social behaviour associated with alcohol sales.

The Metropolitan Police have made representations, agreeing to withdraw them if certain conditions are met, including reduced timings for licensable activities and the implementation of specific conditions related to CCTV, incident logs, staff training, noise management, and dispersal. The Noise & Nuisance Team Leader has also proposed conditions, including limits on the number of large events per year, noise monitoring, and a dedicated contact number for residents.

The applicant, Lee Creightney, has indicated agreement with the conditions proposed by the Metropolitan Police and has also agreed to conditions put forward by the Noise & Nuisance team. The applicant's Event Management Plan outlines measures for security, crowd control, public safety, noise management, and the protection of children.

The report pack also includes the existing premises licence for New River Sports & Fitness, which authorises live and recorded music, late-night refreshment, and the supply of alcohol, with specific timings for each activity. There is also a history of noise complaints recorded by the council.

The Sub-Committee will need to consider all representations and evidence presented to determine the application, having regard to the Licensing Act 2003, the Secretary of State's Guidance, and the Council's Statement of Licensing Policy. The decision must be evidence-based, justified as appropriate for the promotion of the licensing objectives, and proportionate to what it is intended to achieve.