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'No' to new bar proposals


PLANS for a new bar have been refused because police say they are already over-stretched.

Last Wednesday councillors heard how the town centre is plagued by crime and disorder at night.

They were discussing plans to convert a former carpet shop at Rusgan House on Barbauld Street into a bar that would open until 2am.

But police objections on the grounds of public safety, a potential increase in crime and inadequate CCTV meant the application was unanimously refused.

In a letter to the committee the force said: “Officers are already heavily committed every night policing the town centre to deal with a very large number of violent incidents.

“I have been forced to abstract officers from other parts of the borough. The result is that I am unable to adequately police these areas.”

The letter argues that since the area is not covered by CCTV police would be unable to spot trouble before it escalated.

Alison Freeman, speaking for the applicant, said the bar was offering CCTV as an improvement on the original application which was refused in March this year.

The CCTV would also cover another building that received planning permission without a requirement for CCT.

She called the force’s approach ‘prejudiced’ and said: “If this is refused then surely every other application for the town centre should also be refused. Barbauld Street is in dire need of investment.”

Comments(3)

pioneer1 says...
8:57am Tue 7 Oct 08

blatant lie! there is CCTV there because it is outside the old abba taxi rank & we all know what happend there earlier in the year, the caneras are situated at either end, 1 at the lights and 1 next to reflex.
why are the police so worrled about it anyway, cant police that area, the applicatiuon is for a shop next to level and friars court, so the police dont monitor that area no?

Legendary Lady says...
8:01pm Tue 7 Oct 08

If you read the article PROPERLY you will see the application is for a BAR not a SHOP!

pioneer1 says...
8:17am Wed 8 Oct 08

blatant lie! there is CCTV there because it is outside the old abba taxi rank & we all know what happend there earlier in the year, the caneras are situated at either end, 1 at the lights and 1 next to reflex.
why are the police so worrled about it anyway, cant police that area, the applicatiuon is for a BAR next to level and friars court, so the police dont monitor that area no?



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