03/28/2024

Wales News Online

Local & National News for Wales

A HOTEL operator seeking a new premises licence told Carmarthenshire councillors he wanted to work with local residents, including trainee missionaries next door, and not upset them.

Mark Dudley said he was willing to make concessions to keep residents of Queen Victoria Road, Llanelli, where the new 20-bed hotel and 60-seater restaurant and bar are, on side.

He was addressing a council licensing sub-committee, which also heard from a Llanelli councillor and Queen Victoria Road resident, about the new Angharad House venture.

Angharad House comprises two adjacent buildings, and was formerly the Coastal Park guest house. The previous premises licence expired four years ago.

Council licensing officer Emyr Jones told the sub-committee there was no history of complaints or enforcement relating to the site, but that the authorities had requested a number of conditions to be imposed should councillors be minded to approve the application.

Mr Jones said Mr Dudley had subsequently agreed to amend his application to incorporate them.

Cllr Andre McPherson, who is not on the sub-committee but was addressing it after being approached by residents, said what was proposed at Angharad House was “a very different business model” than its predecessor.

He said he wanted Angharad House to be successful but that people on Queen Victoria Road were concerned about its potential impact on what was a residential street. He said planning matters also needed resolving, and was happy to offer Mr Dudley support in that respect.

Catriona Waldron, who lives on the road, said she had knocked on every door to canvas views.

The consensus, she said, was that serving alcohol to people who weren’t hotel guests until late at night – some of whom might be sat outside – was not appropriate.

Mrs Waldron said one of the neighbouring properties was where Korean teenagers trained to become Christian missionaries.

“I am told they like to be in bed by 10 o’clock,” she said.

Other people living close by included teachers and pensioners, she said, while Queen Victoria Road was also home to three care and community facilities.

“These people do excellent work, and I think you have a duty to them,” she said to the sub-committee.

Mr Dudley said he was open to adjustments, including the removal of outdoor seating, a reduction of times of serving alcohol, and signs requesting visitors didn’t drop people off or pick them up at the front of the premises.

“We want to work with the community – we don’t want to be upsetting local residents,” he said.

The council’s legal adviser outlined three further conditions, which Mr Dudley accepted, before the sub-committee retired to consider its decision.

The Local Democracy Reporter Service has been told that a licence was awarded, but the requirements and conditions aren’t known at this stage.

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