Objections to entertainments licence for 'noisy' over 50’s bowling club

A renewal for an entertainments licence at an over 50’s bowling club in South Belfast has been put on hold after local objections about “noisy” Tuesday night dance classes.

At the recent meeting of the Belfast City Council Licensing Committee, an application for the renewal of a six day annual indoor entertainments licence for the Shaftesbury Bowling and Recreation Centre 20A Annadale Avenue was put on hold.

Elected representatives deferred to enable officers to consider new evidence raised by an objector during their deputation to the committee, and to support further mediation between the applicant and the objector. The objector’s deputation was “restricted,” that is, held away from the public and press.

The applicant is Fred Simpson, of Holywood. The application is for entertainment Monday to Saturday, 11.30am to 11.00pm, in the main hall which has a maximum capacity of 200 persons.

The council received two objector representations regarding the renewal of the licence before the application for renewal of the licence was received, on December 22 last year. The two objections were made by residents living near the club, and in both cases involved an accusation of ongoing loud music every Tuesday evening.

The council licensing report states: “Eleven noise complaints were received by the night time noise team between March 2022 and October 2022. On four occasions, officers of the noise team witnessed excessive noise levels that warranted action in the form of a verbal warning.”

It adds: “The objector has identified that ongoing noise disturbance from the venue continues to be experienced. Particular reference had been made to dance classes held in the venue on Tuesday evenings.”

The council report states: “Following receipt of the objections the service facilitated a liaison meeting between all parties involved to discuss residents’ issues and attempt to resolve them.

“Both objectors, members of the club committee and an officer from the service met at the club to discuss resident’s concerns on 11 November 2022. Following discussions, the club committee advised they implemented arrangements in relation to noise as requested by residents.

“However, the residents advise they still wish to pursue their objections. As required by the committee protocol the applicant and each of the objectors were requested to provide their representation in advance of the meeting for consideration.”

In the applicant’s representation, the club said they would monitor noise levels and ask those who use the hall to “turn down bass where appropriate.” They said they had purchased and placed mats below speakers to lessen vibrations, and sealed any unnecessary openings around the club premises.

Shaftesbury Bowling added that any of the organisations using the hall in the evening would have to keep the hall’s double doors closed when music was being played. They also offered a mobile number that complainants could call if noise was unacceptable, and offered to have a sound engineer go to the complainants’ premises to assess the level of noise and produce a report.

In response to the representation form submitted by the applicant, one objector said the music is “persistently loud” on Tuesday evenings, which affects their “family’s health, wellbeing and overall quality of life.” The objector added the club was “not taking (their) concerns seriously.”

UUP Alderman Jim Rodgers proposed the committee approve the renewal of the entertainment licence. He said: “I am not a member of this club, but I can tell you from speaking with other clubs, Shaftesbury Bowling Club is very long established, people from all sides of our divided society are members, and it is well run.”

He added: “Most of the members are over 50’s, admittedly on the evenings when there is entertainment they are much younger than that, but the club has been there for a long, long time.” The alderman’s proposal was not agreed after the objector’s live submission, and the item will be revisited in the next committee meeting in August.