The Licensing Sub Committee of Epping Forest Council met to discuss the application for a new premises licence for Debden House Centre in Debden Green, Loughton. The committee decided to grant the licence with specific conditions to address concerns raised by local residents and organisations.

Application for a New Premises Licence for Debden House Centre

The primary focus of the meeting was the application for a new premises licence for Debden House Centre in Debden Green, Loughton. The application sought permission to sell alcohol and provide regulated entertainment, including live music and recorded music, at the venue.

Concerns from Local Residents

Several local residents and organisations submitted objections to the application. The objections were primarily concerned with potential noise pollution, increased traffic, and the impact on local wildlife. A letter to neighbours regarding the licence application outlined these concerns in detail.

One resident stated, The noise from events will disrupt the peace and quiet of our neighbourhood and negatively affect our quality of life. Another resident raised concerns about the potential for increased traffic, saying, The narrow roads around Debden Green are not equipped to handle the additional traffic that events at Debden House Centre will bring.

Responses from the Applicant

The applicant responded to these objections with a series of measures aimed at mitigating the concerns. These responses were documented in the Supplementary Agenda 1 and Supplementary Agenda 2. The applicant proposed soundproofing measures, restricted hours for events, and a traffic management plan to address the concerns raised.

Decision and Conditions

After considering the objections and the applicant's responses, the committee decided to grant the premises licence with specific conditions. These conditions included:

• Limiting the hours during which alcohol can be sold and music can be played.
• Implementing soundproofing measures to minimise noise pollution.
• Enforcing a traffic management plan to control the flow of vehicles during events.

Councillor Paul Convery, who chaired the meeting, stated, We believe these conditions will help balance the needs of the business with the concerns of the local community.

Other Documents and Reports

The meeting also referenced several other documents, including the Documents for Panel Report and the Response to Objections re License Application. These documents provided additional context and detailed the measures proposed by the applicant to address the objections.