Witham: Concerns over public hall licence

3:30pm Wednesday 6th August 2008

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Groups could face a funding blow if a popular public hall loses its licence to sell alcohol.

An application on the door of Witham Public Hall states Braintree Council is applying to remove the sale of alcohol from the building in Collingwood Road, Witham.

Objections can be made to the council until August 8.

Steve Sparrow, licensing officer for Essex Police, said he had dealt with three or four applications of a similar nature where local authorities are removing alcohol from the licence.

He said: “It’s because of a number of reasons, to make it easier to manage and they are having them as entertainment venues - if people want to hire it for alcohol they can apply by their own steam.”

Jim Wilson, chairman of Witham Amateur Operatic Workshop (WAOS), said he had spoke to Braintree Council about it and “expressed our concern that the society would be severely disadvantaged if there is no licence, clearly it would make some of the shows a loss maker.”

Mr Wilson, who praised council officers for being “very helpful”, said if there was no licence to sell alcohol it would affect “many thousands of people not just us but Witham Operatic Workshop (WOW), the drama group and dance groups.”

For the full story see the Witham and Braintree Times.