Fenland District Council refuses to grant licence for Ciao nightclub in Wisbech

PLANS to open a nightclub in Wisbech received a setback this week when Fenland District Council refused to grant the owners a licence.

The council's licensing committee refused the application for the Ciao Club, in Royal Place, amid fears over crime and disorder, public nuisance and public safety.

It was the second time in two months the licensing committee considered an application for Ciao from Paul and Poppy Turner of King's Lynn.

In October their application was considered invalid because a plan varied from the application.

Police produced a 29-page report objecting to the plans prior to yesterday's meeting. It highlighted incidents at the Ciao Coffee House in King's Lynn, also owned by Mr and Mrs Turner.

Sector inspector Andy Sullivan said: "The evidence from my colleagues suggests to me that the applicant from the Ciao nightclub has not demonstrated an ability to run a well-managed and safe establishment at Ciao coffee house for any length of time.

"The grant of a premises licence for the Ciao nightclub would have an adverse impact on crime and disorder, public nuisance and public safety as it has done in the case of the Ciao coffee house."

Councillors said they took into account the narrowness of Royal Place, that there is no CCTV coverage in the area and that smokers ganging up in the street will cause a nuisance when making their decision.

The decision statement said: "We listened to the applicant and his proposals to overcome the objections of the police. However, we do not believe they are sufficient to prevent crime and disorder."

"We are concerned with the overflow from premises that will be created with smokers in the street given that it is a public highway and the applicant has stated there could be up to 25 persons at any one time smoking in the street.

"We believe that it is inevitable that noise levels will cause a public nuisance.