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Tue 28 Feb 2012
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Licensing restrictions could be imposed in Waterloo
Wed 17 Mar 2010
Pubs, bars and clubs that are opening in the Waterloo area of London could be required to comply with new licensing restrictions.
Southwark Council is currently considering creating a so-called saturation zone in Isabella Street and parts of The Cut.
This means that any establishments which hope to sell alcohol in this area will be required to provide evidence the grant of a new licence will not add to the existing crime and disorder or public nuisance.
The plans have been drawn up in an attempt to tackle alcohol-related crime in the vicinity of the Old and Young Vic theatres.
Linda Manchester of Southwark Council told the London Evening Standard that saturation zones have already proved successful in Borough and Bankside.
Robert Botkai, a partner at Winckworth Sherwood Solicitors, commented: "The whole concept of the cumulative impact zone was introduced in the Secretary of State's Guidance to the Licensing Act 2003.
"On the strength of this guidance, more and more Licensing Authorities are introducing the zones and the result is that new licences can be very difficult to obtain in these areas.
"I remain sceptical about the legality of such zones as some polices set an impossible test for an applicant to satisfy.
"This test has no statutory or even regulatory basis and I believe it is vulnerable to a judicial review.
"We will be keeping clients up to date with regard to cumulative impact but if you wish to make an application in a zone I recommend that you take early advice from a licensing solicitor."
