Marsden cafe’s alcohol license application to go ahead after ‘sabotage’

Nearly 2,000 Marsden locals have backed a local cafe’s bid for an alcohol license amid claims of attempted “sabotage” by objectors, with a final decision set to be made on Wednesday (July 3).

Oi Dumplings, or Café Oi as it is also known, has applied to Kirklees Council for an alcohol licence. The Asian fusion restaurant wants to sell alcohol when it moves into its new location at 9 Peel Street next month.

The app has garnered a lot of interest from the community. Landlord Maisie Davies launched a petition which demonstrated the strength of local sentiment in favor of the plans. About 2,000 signatures were collected.

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The petition came in response to objections to the license application from what the cafe’s owners described as a “small group of mischievous individuals”. Kirklees Council says it received four objections in response to the plans, one of which was later withdrawn. It also received a petition opposing the license, but the number of signatures is not disclosed.

An anonymous objector wrote: “An additional liquor license will cause an increase in public nuisance and add to the social disorder associated with a concentration of bars in the area, causing loss of amenity for existing residents.

“Marsden is a small place and the Ale Trail is already leading to considerable problems in public disorder. Another license will only make it worse.” The opponent said they had also attached the petition opposing the application to their email and said the signatures were from “local people we have researched”.

On the other hand, more than a hundred Marsden locals have written to the council backing the plans and urging it to grant the licence. One supporter wrote: “The business and its owners/staff are an integral part of the village. It is vital that we give small businesses all the support we can to help our rural economies grow.

“Supporting a small independent business like Oi Dumplings helps the village retain its identity. This is extremely important where so many small communities are burdened with identical chain restaurants.”

Another said: “…following the success of a smaller store, the owners have now invested heavily in a main building on Peel Street to grow their business and contribute to our wonderful community. However, I am saddened to learn that a small group of individuals are trying to sabotage this business by raising issues with the demand for alcohol. I understand that some of their methods of attracting objectors were quite strong.

“We have all seen our neighboring village of Slaithwaite flourish with a variety of similar businesses. It was difficult to see Marsden falling behind, becoming less attractive to visitors. However, with people now willing to invest in our village, we should all support and welcome these new ventures.”

If granted, the license would allow the business to serve alcohol between 10am and 11pm, seven days a week. They would also need to get additional permission from the council if Café Oi is to make full use of the license as planning restrictions limit trading hours at the premises to 08:30 – 18:00 Monday to Saturday and 12:00 until 17:00 on Sunday.

The application will be determined at 9.30am on Wednesday 3rd July by Kirklees Council’s Licensing Committee.

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