Andrew Keddie
andrewkeddie@tweeddalepress.co.uk
Scottish Borders Licensing Board will tomorrow consider a bid by pub giant J D Wetherspoon to operate an outlet in Hawick.
The transformation of the spacious former Conservative Club in Bourtre
e Place, which some publicans in the town fear will threaten their survival, is set to be approved, with no objections tendered by either the police or the local licensing standards officer.
Earlier this month, the change of use of the club to an "ale, wine and food public bar" was given planning consent by Scottish Borders Council.
At tomorrow's meeting in Galashiels, the board will also back a Statement of Licensing Policy which will go out to public consultation for 12 weeks and cover all applications for drinks licences in pubs, clubs, night-clubs and off-sales premises over the three years from November.
The updated policy reflects the objectives of the Licensing Scotland Act 2005 which was finally rolled out across the Borders in September last year. This aims to prevent crime and disorder, secure public safety, prevent public nuisance, improve public health and protect children from harm.
The statement acknowledges that in the year before September, a number of off-sales premises closed while several convenience shops chose not to license their premises.
In fact, with premises and personal licences now required under the legislation, the number of licensed premises in the region, including registered clubs, now stands at 442.
Last year, the advisory Scottish Borders Licensing Forum, with trade, police, education and lay representatives, expressed concern that there was overprovision of certain types of premises - such as night clubs in Galashiels - in some towns and that this should be a material consideration when the board considers applications for new licences.
That recommendation has been embraced in the new policy which states: "The board considers the provision of particular types of premises in particular localities are at an appropriate level at the present time and further provision, such as nightclub type operations, could constitute overprovision."
Although the Scottish Licensed Trade Association has expressed fears over more and more pub closures, in the wake of competition from so-called superpubs like those operated by Wetherspoon, supermarket alcohol sales and the economic recession, the new policy favours drinking in pubs over the solitary consumption of alcohol at home.
"The board strongly considers that well-run on-sales premises are a preferred and safer environment for alcohol consumption and should be encouraged over drinking at home," the statement says.
"Such premises provide a range of services, such as food and quality accommodation, and, in certain localities, will be encouraged.
