The meeting was scheduled to begin with approval of the minutes from the previous meeting of the Licensing Board, held on 22 November 2024. The Board was also scheduled to note a report on the licences issued under delegated powers by the board between meetings. The rest of the meeting was scheduled to be dedicated to discussing applications for new and varied licences under the Licensing (Scotland) Act 2005.

Melrose Chambers Coffee House Provisional Premises Licence Application

The board was scheduled to consider an application for a new premises licence for Melrose Chambers Coffee House in Melrose. The application was made by Stag Cameron Developments for the business at Melrose Chambers Coffee House on St Dunstans High Street. The applicant requested permission to sell alcohol for consumption on and off the premises from 11am to 11pm every day. No representations were received from the police, Licensing Standards Enforcement, or Environmental Health, and the application was not listed for discussion.

Stow Brewery Ltd Provisional Premises Licence Application

The board was scheduled to consider an application for a new premises licence for the business at 3 Mid Row on Mid Row in Lauder. The application, by Stow Brewery Ltd, was for permission to sell alcohol from 10am to 10pm every day, for consumption off the premises. No representations were received from the police, Licensing Standards Enforcement, or Environmental Health, and the application was not listed for discussion.

Greenlaw Bowling Club Premises Licence Variation Application

The board was scheduled to consider an application from Greenlaw Bowling Club to vary the premises licence for the bowling club in Greenlaw. The applicant requested the following changes to their licence:

• Permission to start selling alcohol at 10am, rather than 11am.
• Permission to hold conferences, dances, and show theatre and films.
• Permission to hold receptions, club meetings, play recorded music, host live performances, show televised sport, and sell alcohol for consumption outdoors.
• Permission to increase the maximum number of members from 60 to 90, and to increase the capacity of the venue from 50 to 80. Representations were received from Police Scotland, the Licensing Standards Officer, and Environmental Health, none of whom objected to the application.

Objection from Mr Arthur Braithwaite

The nature of my objection to the proposed amendments to the operating and layout plans are as follows.

The board was scheduled to consider an objection from a Mr Arthur Braithwaite to the application to vary the licence for Greenlaw Bowling Club. Mr Braithwaite's objection centred on his concerns about noise from the venue.

My experience of the member-generated noise from the premises is always worse after alcohol has been consumed, where voices become raised and profanity more frequent.

Mr Braithwaite was concerned that allowing the club to begin serving alcohol an hour earlier would worsen the situation.

As per the above objections to the first three bullet-pointed proposed amendments, starting such activities or events earlier than the law currently allows would only increase the disturbance created.

He was also concerned that the capacity increases and requested changes to the licence would lead to greater noise levels.

As per the above objections to the first three bullet-pointed proposed amendments, increasing the number of members who could attend such activities or events would only increase the disturbance created.

He described issues with noise disturbing him in his property, which he shares a hedge with the bowling club.

On warm evenings I must close all my own windows and sometimes even take out my hearing-aids just to get some respite from the excess noise. On the occasions where the output has exceeded the day-to-day conversational noise of the members, it has been exacerbated by revellers spilling out from the clubhouse onto the outdoor areas of the property right up to the shared hedge boundary to my house, mere feet away.

He requested that, should the application be approved, conditions be attached to mitigate against noise escaping the venue.

I would urge a wider consultation as people slightly further away may have a view.

He also expressed concerns about the management of the club.

One last point, it is my view the current manager of the club operates with some impunity. They have not been helpful when I have presented my complaints, and I wonder whether or not there have been any supervisory visits in the past.