Opening new Bangor bar could 'increase risk of death' in city, police fear

Police fear the opening of a new bar in Bangor city centre could increase the "risk of death or serious injury" in the area. The concerns from North Wales Police were included in a report being considered by Cyngor Gwynedd for a premises licence for The Vaults on High Street.

Applicant Jason Chinery is seeking a premises licence for a pub and restaurant, with increased hours for live and recorded music indoors, late night refreshment on and off the premise and to supply alcohol on the premises. The application is for the premises to be open from 7am until 2am every day.

The applicant wishes to sell alcohol on the premises between those times, with the application also asking for a licence for live music and recorded music until 2am. The application requests an additional hour over most bank holidays and on New Year's Eve.

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The applicant describes extensive measures to prevent public nuisance and for public safety, including use of CCTV and cameras capturing full face images of people entering and exiting, allowing police access to images, fire safety equipment, staff training, asking customers to leave quietly and inspecting IDs of those who appeared under 25. But concerns were raised by police and environmental health officers.

A central licensing sub committee report noted that Inspector Ian Roberts of North Wales Police had "wanted to understand the rationale of opening at 7am". He also had "concerns that there are residential flats nearby and 2am appears late".

He said: "This is likely to invite a public nuisance complaint of noise." He noted that it had been a "positive to the night-time economy of Bangor that a new venue was opening following the turbulent post COVID period".

"The flip-side is that the night-time footfall to Bangor appears to be increasing and pre-COVID issues are starting to re-emerge," he stated. "Officers working the night-time economy have already raised concerns regarding the volume of people at this location.

"Specifically drawn into Star Kebabs following closing time at Trilogy Nightclub. Opening a further venue would increase footfall, and in my professional opinion increase the risk of death or serious injury."

An image showing a crowd of people in the area was included to "illustrate" the concerns. Environmental health officers had also raised concerns over noise impacting nearby residential properties.

It called for more information from the applicant over noise prevention and queried the layout/plan for temporary structures for outdoor facilities. The applicant had agreed in writing to include additional measures to control noise, and an objection was withdrawn.

Conditions proposed by the police also agreed by the applicant, included a reduction of hours over the sale of alcohol to 10am to midnight on Sunday to Thursday, and 10am to 2am on Friday and Saturday. The report added: "Non-standard timings would remain as is for Bank Holiday weekends."

It also included the use of CCTV and the employment of SIA registered door staff for late night time openings. Allowances proposed included up to ten events per annum (Sunday - Thursday) where premises could operate until 2am, with prior knowledge and agreement of the local authority and police.

Cyngor Gwynedd's central licensing sub committee will decide on the matter when it meets on Monday, June 10.

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