The Street Trading and Pavement Licensing Sub Committee of Cornwall Council is scheduled to consider an application for the renewal of a pavement licence. This will involve reviewing representations received from members of the public regarding the application.

Pavement Licence Renewal for Balcony Bar And Kitchen

The committee is scheduled to consider an application for the renewal of a pavement licence for the Balcony Bar And Kitchen, located at Wharf Road, St Ives, Cornwall, TR26 1LP. The application, made under the Business and Planning Act 2020, seeks to allow the business to place furniture on the highway for the consumption of food and drink. The current licence is due to expire on 31 October 2026, and the renewal application seeks to extend this until 31 October 2028.

The report pack indicates that the application has received objections from eight members of the public. These representations raise concerns about the obstruction of pavements, the blocking of business entrances and side entrances, and the potential for increased litter and antisocial behaviour. One representation from a neighbouring business states: The picnic tables firstly block the pavement and force the ice cream queue to completely and regularly block our front entrance. This is damaging to our business.¹ Another objector noted, The tables restrict access to both my window and the side entrance to the building. People have to negotiate a narrow space to reach us even when empty, when occupied the tables often have pushchairs, bags and dogs surrounding them making the space used much larger, the result of this is that people find it extremely difficult to access my window or the gallery.²

The committee will need to determine whether to grant the application as submitted, grant it with additional conditions or modifications, or refuse it, providing reasons for any decision. The report pack outlines the procedure for considering such applications, which includes hearing from the applicant and any objectors. The committee will also consider mandatory and local conditions for pavement licences, including a no-obstruction condition which requires that activities under the licence do not prevent normal access to adjoining premises, and a smoke-free seating condition requiring reasonable provision for non-smoking areas.

The report author is Sharon Dower, and enquiries about the agenda can be directed to Amy Sweet, Democratic Officer, or by emailing licensingcommittee@cornwall.gov.uk. The meeting is scheduled to take place in the Grenville Room, County Hall, Truro, TR1 3AY.