Objections to Kirkstall Lane liquor license bid

By Don Mortlocal democracy reporter

Objections have been raised to an application to sell alcohol from a ‘shop’ on Kirkstall Lane.

Leeds City Council will decide whether to grant permission for The Hut to sell drinks until 10.30pm.

The applicant, Wenham Home Ltd, said customers would be served from a hatch and enjoy drinks in an outdoor seating area.

A consent report said the council had received objections from ward councilors and a residents’ association.

Councilor Fiona Venner (Lab, Kirkstall) said the site was at the junction of three roads and was an inappropriate place to sell alcohol.

She wrote: “It’s basically a shed. This is a bizarre application and inappropriate in an area with several pubs.

“I don’t understand why anyone would want to sit in a busy intersection next to a shed with no access to a toilet while having a drink and I can only foresee huge inconvenience to local residents.”

The Ash Road Area Residents’ Association (ARARA) said the granting of the license could lead to noise, waste and public nuisance.

They said: “It’s very close to a junction so there are risks for drinkers if they spill onto the rather narrow pavements.”

The council’s licensing sub-committee will discuss the application at a meeting on Tuesday (July 16).

The license application said: “The venue, known as The Hut, is a log cabin measuring seven meters by seven meters with an outdoor seating area for customers to sit and enjoy their drinks.

“At The Hut, sales are conducted exclusively through a service hatch, which limits public access to the premises.”

The licensing report said the proposed closing time had been changed to 10.30pm from 11pm under an agreement with West Yorkshire Police.

The subcommittee will decide whether to grant, deny or accept the request with additional conditions.