Whalley: 'Late night problems need licensing changes and police action'

Councillors voiced their concerns after a recent survey of Whalley residents highlighted complaints about late night noise, anti-social behaviour and crime. 

Future changes to licensing for pubs, bars and other licensed venues could place a heavier onus on business owners to prove their activities will not contribute to late night noise, litter and crime.

But police action is needed too, Ribble Valley councillors have said.

Ribble Valley Borough Council’s Licensing Committee has agreed to renew and add more evidence to a licensing process called a Cumulative Impact Assessment which, in future, would place more responsibility on businesses seeking a licence to demonstrate their operations would not add to night time problems.

But councillors also queried the police, asking what is being done to tackle weekend problems and crime in Whalley.

In addition,  two Whalley villagers spoke directly to councillors at this week’s licensing committee meeting – but asked for anonymity in case of a backlash against them. They spoke on behalf of the Residents’ Action Group.

One said: “Having a good night time economy in Whalley is a great thing. The majority of customers have a good time and behave themselves. However the weekends bring the problems with late hours. We wonder if we will be able to stay at home over the weekend? Will our children be able to sleep? Will there be vomit and broken glass on the pavements?

“Late weekend opening hours create the problems rather than the management of the premises. On midweek nights with normal opening hours there is little disturbance. Please protect us from anti-social behaviour on the streets where we live.”

The second anonymous resident said: “I’m so upset about the negative effects of the night time economy. Whalley has always been a busy place but it has become intimidating.

“I’ve seen groups skulking about and drugs being openly taken on the streets. We have the stress of people coming into gardens to take drugs or urinate or just getting lost. The long-term effect on us is profound. We have taken to leaving Whalley at weekends to avoid it.

“It’s hard to reconcile our experiences with Ribble Valley policies and aspirations to make people’s lives better. We have written to Ribble Valley Borough Council a number of times, saying something serious would happen. And something serious has happened recently with an assault.”

Borough council solicitor Stephen Barker said the cumulative impact assessment was first launched in 2019 and has a three-year period to operate until April 2022. It has to be renewed by the borough council for the future.

The  new licensing requirement would apply to brand new applications for alcohol and music licenses and for cases where existing licenses are being reviewed or where businesses are applying for a licence variation, such as changes to opening hours.

Councillors raised numerous concerns about the situation in Whalley.

Coun Ged Mirfin read sections from a House of Commons research paper offering guidance on cumulative impact assessments.

Referring to the guidance, he said: “In some places, the number or type or density of licensed premises can create problems and nuisance outside. There can be noise problems with large numbers of customers leaving at peak times or queueing for taxis or outside takeaways. There can be problems with pickpockets and crime, littering and street fouling, and other problems with large crowds who cannot be dispersed quickly. In some areas, the impact of licensed premises will be greater together than by individual premises. This may be more likely in town centres than other locations.”

Suggesting the examples were highly relevant, he added: “I did not realise that House of Commons researchers had visited Whalley.”

Coun Mirfin works in the data industry had carried out some data analysis of the types of complaints from villagers in Whalley. He said: “The major issues for residents are noise and disturbance, which was highlighted by 62 per cent in the survey.  Drunkenness and rowdiness was cited by 57 per cent of residents. However the most disturbing thing for me was the number who cited personal safety issues. One in three either fear for their safety or have experienced intimidating behaviour.  That’s incredibly disturbing. It’s a real cause for concern and a shameful indictment of some of these customers, about how they have spoken to old people and children.

“It’s embarrassing that the authorities have not done more about these problems and I include the police in that. Sixty per cent of people in the survey say they have experienced vandalism.

“This cumulative impact assessment residents’ survey is a statement of reality. It shows the impact of lots of  premises selling alcohol in a very tight location. There are other tools in the licensing tool box that we can use. For example, there are licensing reviews, early morning licensing restriction orders and late night levies. There are also possibilities to re-zone the town centre around Queen  Street and Accrington Road, to claim back some of those premises.  I would like to get a cumulative impact assessment in-place then see what tools we have to make an impact and make residents’  lives much more tolerable.”

Licensing committee chairwoman Coun Janet Alcock clarified or emphasised that the impact assessment was in place and had been since 2019.

Coun James Rogerson said: “I support the recommendation to continue the cumulative impact assessment. However I also feel we are using a sledgehammer to crack a nut. The real problem is not the total number of licensed premises. The real problems come from just a few of them – half a dozen premises – and with late night licenses.  And where are the revellers coming from? If these premises are attracting a lot from outside the area, we need to tighten-up what we are doing.”

Coun Gary Scott, who represents Chatburn, said: “When I read the residents comments in the survey I was horrified. I’m proud to have been born in Whalley but if this was going on in my ward it would be absolutely horrific. I support the assessment but we also need to speak to authorities and the police. We need to act as the council. This is the Ribble Valley. I stress, we need to act. This is awful.”

Coun Ian Brown said: “The statements from the two residents tonight are a sad indictment. It seems that things have not been acted upon quickly enough by anybody, particularly the police. As much as I support this assessment, it is a piece of paper and has does not seem to have done much over the past few years. The authorities need to get together to take things forward.  We pay the police and they should be doing a lot more, not just in Whalley but elsewhere.”

Coun Richard Bennett added: “Can there not be an increased police presence in Whalley? I go for a drink in Whalley but I never see the police. Could they visit the railway station too? Visitors are coming by train too. Overall, the situation is a disgraceful set of affairs. ”

Maira Hill, the borough’s head of legal and democratic services, said licence reviews can be brought by various authorities and also residents. She said borough licensing officers had held talks with Whalley pubs and bars last week  and might launch a pub watch scheme. She said the borough also worked closely with the police and patrol issues may be caused by police resources and targeting.

The borough solicitor, Mr Barker,  said anti-social behaviour by younger teenagers travelling by train to Whalley had been a separate problem. The late night problems in Whalley happened at times after the last trains operated and with older age groups.