A SOCIAL club which has attracted dozens of complaints over noise and anti-social behaviour has applied for a new premises licence.

Granting the application for Bournemouth Electric Club would “fail to properly ensure the safety of the public”, warn Dorset Police.

The social club’s previous licence lapsed at the beginning of 2023, seeing it obtain a club premises certificate – meaning the bar facilities have been run by a committee and its profits used to benefit members.

However, applicant Esmecam Limited has now applied for a premises licence to “get over the issues” associated with a club premises certificate, and retain profits made.

Licensing activities sought include alcohol sales until 11pm Sunday to Thursday and until midnight on Friday and Saturday, with the club closing 30 minutes later.

Dorset Police objected to the application, noting the club in Broadway Lane has “previously been associated with anti-social behaviour and disorder during the late evenings”.

Environmental Health (EH) also raised an objection, and said the club was already subject to a number of noise complaints with it being in a residential area. 

The complaints were first received in June 2021, and prompted interventions from EH, BCP Council and Dorset Police.

While the interventions were initially successful, noise complaints resumed in early 2023, having a “detrimental effect" on residents, according to Andrew Hill at EH.

The new premises licence application was discussed at a BCP Council licencing sub-committee meeting on Wednesday, January 3.

Mr Wallsgrove, representing the applicant, addressed the noise complaints and observed they resumed when the previous premises licence lapsed.

He said: “I don’t think it’s too unreasonable to suggest if that person was struggling to make the finances work at these premises that perhaps the standard of management of events and other activities at the club weren't up to their usual standard and maybe those standards slipped which led to some of the complaints in 2023.

“Given in nearly 100 years of trading without problems, there were a couple of blips from the previses licensee who now has nothing to do with the premises, I ask you to grant the application.”

Summing up for the committee, Andrew Wemyss said: “This new premises licence will seek to effectively hand over use of the site for commercial gain by an external operator and I see this simply as a way for the club to distance itself from its responsibly to local residents.

“I cannot be seen to support an application which I know will result in prevention of public nuisance objective being undermined and is also likely to result in statutory nuisance.”

The licencing sub-committee is expected to return with a decision next week.