The Licensing Sub-Committee C of the Royal Borough of Greenwich is scheduled to meet on 17 September 2024. The documents made public in advance of the meeting include reports about two applications to be considered by the sub-committee, one for the grant of a new off-licence, and one to vary the conditions of an existing licence.

Application to Grant a Premises Licence: Fan Zone, Charlton Athletic Football Club, Floyd Road, London SE7 8BL

Charlton Athletic Football Company Limited has applied to the council for a licence to operate a Fan Zone in the West Car Park of The Valley football stadium. They are proposing that the Fan Zone would open from 9am to 9.30pm every day, and that it would offer the sale and supply of alcohol for consumption both on and off the premises, show films, host indoor sports, have both live and recorded music, and have dancing.

This application has been opposed by Councillor Jo van den Broek, who argued that:

The hours requested for regulated entertainment are unreasonable - the noise from that comes from the area in question which is adjacent to the short back gardens of many residents, and within a few metres of many more houses in this residential area is a difficulty for residents.

Councillor van den Broek also raised concerns about the impact of the sale of alcohol.

The application has also been opposed by 79 local residents who signed a petition opposing the application.

The Metropolitan Police have discussed the application with the club and agree that the Fan Zone should only be used on match days, and that no away fans should be permitted. They also agreed that no drinks should be served in glass containers and that there should be a written security policy.

Application for Variation of a Premises Licence for AFC Lewisham, Gresham Sports Ground, Eltham Road, London SE12 8ES

AFC Lewisham CIC¹ have applied to the council to vary their licence for the sale of alcohol, the provision of indoor sporting events, performances of dance and the opening hours of their premises.

The applicant is proposing to increase the permitted hours for the sale of alcohol for consumption on the premises to 4pm to 11pm Monday to Thursday, 4pm to midnight on Friday, midday to midnight on Saturday and midday to 11pm on Sunday. They also wish to add the right to sell alcohol for consumption off the premises for those same hours.

The applicant is also seeking an extension to the hours that regulated entertainment may take place, asking to vary them to 4pm to 11pm Monday to Thursday, 4pm to midnight on Friday, midday to midnight on Saturday and midday to 11pm on Sunday.

The applicant is also proposing to extend the opening hours of the premises to 9am to 11pm Monday to Thursday, 9am to midnight on Friday, 9am to midnight on Saturday and 9am to 11pm on Sunday.

This application has been opposed by two local Councillors, Councillor Denise Hyland and Councillor Sandra Bauer, and by Daniel Bygrave, the Lead Community Protection Officer of the Royal Greenwich Community Protection (Noise) Team.

Bygrave raised concerns about the application because:

During July / August 2022 the Community Protection Team issued an abatement notice to AFC Lewisham following several events taking place in the field of the park. The events were loud and managed ineffectively which caused residents’ distress due to the loud and intrusive noise nuisance witnessed.

A noise abatement notice is served under the Environmental Protection Act 1990. It requires the recipient of the notice to stop making a noise that is deemed to be a statutory nuisance. Failure to comply with a noise abatement notice is an offence that could lead to prosecution.

Bygrave proposed that the application should only be granted if conditions are imposed on the licence, including that the sale of alcohol and regulated entertainment must cease at 10pm every night.

The application has also been opposed by 50 local residents who wrote to the council to object to the variation of the licence.