Cumulative Impact Policy

Carmarthenshire County Council is carrying out a review into whether it needs a policy on the impact of the large number of licensed premises in Llanelli’s Station Road.

The Licensing Policy Review into a Cumulative Impact Policy for Station Road runs until December 31st.

When the County Council’s policy on the cumulative impact of licensed premises was adopted in January 2010, it was resolved that a further consultation would be undertaken regarding the adoption of a cumulative impact policy in respect of the Station Road area of Llanelli.

The current consultation is an opportunity for local residents, businesses, existing licence holders and their representatives to formally comment on the proposal and provide feedback to the authority.

The proposed cumulative impact area extends from the railway crossing adjacent to the Llanelli Railway Station along the whole length of Station Road to its junction with John Street. It would include any premises which share a boundary with Station Road.

Cumulative impact means the potential impact on the promotion of the council’s licensing objectives of a significant number of licensed premises concentrated in one area.

The effect of adopting a special policy of this kind is to create a rebuttable presumption that applications for new premises licences or club premises certificates or variations that are likely to add to the existing cumulative impact will normally be refused, following relevant representations, unless the applicant can demonstrate in their operating schedule that there will be no negative cumulative impact on one or more of the licensing objectives.

It would normally not be justifiable to adopt a special policy on the basis of a concentration of shops, stores or supermarkets selling alcohol for consumption off the premises. Special policies will usually address the impact of a concentration of licensed premises selling alcohol for consumption on the premises.

If adopted a cumulative impact policy would form part of the authority’s Licensing Policy.

The consultation paper is aimed at local residents, businesses, existing licence holders and their representatives. The council is anxious to receive the views of all interested parties.

If you require any further information regarding the consultation document or the Licensing Act, please contact the licensing section on 01267 228717. This document is also available at www.carmarthenshire.gov.uk