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The truths they don't want you to read....

Friday, July 23, 2010

Golf Club Sunday licence

One of the joys of sitting on the Licencing Board - as I did for 4 years - was to read the various objections to licencing applications and to try to draw some coherence from the more 'green pen' letters that were received.

The re-application by the Golf Club for a Sunday Licence has resulted in four objections, three of which are detailed on Hebrides News; and all which seem to have a religious flavour.

Unfortunately for the objectors, they seem to have got their knickers in a twist over what there objections really are, and as a consequence they seem to undermine each other.

The Free Church Continuing warns that Stornoway suffers from alcohol fuelled violence and criminal behaviour.

They say that shut pubs on Sundays gives families with an alcoholic parent some sober relief on one day a week.

The church fears people could buy a carryout to drink it, outwith the control of the club, in the surrounding tree-secluded vicinity, possibly leading to anti-social conduct.

With seven licenced premises already open in Stornoway on a Sunday, giving "sober relief on one day a week" is a ludicrous aspiration, as an alcoholic will obtain drink if they want it almost regardless of the day or time.

Indeed a walk through the Castle grounds early in the morning on a Sunday and there is often a dawn patrol quaffing a mix of Special Brew and White Cider, even without the Golf Club being open.

The more cerebral objection comes from an individual:

Murdo Murray who was an independent Christian candidate in the general election, argues it presents temptation to people enjoying a walk in the Castle Grounds on a Sunday afternoon and that there is more than sufficient licensed premises opened on Sundays in Stornoway.

This objection reflects the reality on a Stornoway Sunday and addresses the grounds of over-provision, which is one of the aspect that the Board can genuinely take into account in coming to a conclusion.

Whilst not doubting the sincerity of any of the objectors, the approach of the LDOS suggests that they perhaps inhabit a parallel universe where watching golf on TV automatically results in attempted infanticide.

Rev Donald Macdonald for the LDOS is concerned it would result in drunks disturbing strollers in the surrounding scenic Castle Grounds and create more crime and disorder.

He suggests that showing televised sports in licensed premises exposes "children to violent behaviour and abusive behaviour" with an knock-on risk of domestic abuse and reduced family quality time.

He stressed: "The increased temptation for parents to spend their time in the golf club will cause untold harm to their children."

Can I suggest that the Golf Club deal with the LDOS applications by ensuring that a Family Licence is applied for, as the Licencing Board policy is very clear on how this would work.
30.2 The Board wishes to see family friendly premises thriving in the Islands Area; it would welcome applications from those who wish to operate licensed premises which will accommodate children. In determining any such application the risk of harm to children will be paramount.
There you go Rev MacDonald, the Board believe that taking the kids into licenced premises is A Good Thing, as it improves the quality of the premises, demystifies alcohol for the kids, and ensures that the children are protected.

As anyone who has been in an English family pub beer garden will testify, it can be entriely normal for a family to eat, drink and socialise together on a Sunday without the Police in full riot gear being required.

14 comments:

Anonymous said...

The golf club should get this licence as it a about time a decent bar (where the toilets that have been cleaned this millennium) is open on a Sunday for sporting events to be screened.

There is a massive market for these events and if it helps the clubs finances all the better.

Doubtful Thomas said...

If the Churches were really concerned about alcohol, they would be out talking to the jakies in the Castle Grounds and campaigning against cheap booze in the supermarkets.

With their influence, a threatened boycot of the Co-op or Tesco could bring a lot of influence to bear.

However, they prefer to lecture and pontificate than get their hands dirty by doing something.

Anonymous said...

"Presents temptation" implies there is something wrong with having a quiet, relaxing drink and watching a bit of television. Whereas, in fact, there isn't. The onus should be on the protestors to prove that the bad things they allege will happen, or are likely to happen.

Most people in Stornoway like a quiet drink or two. A visible minority like many drinks and can't hold it, or end up in the police reports. It would be nice if the protestors could provide some evidence that the golf club bar opening would make this situation "worse". Predictions and dire warning alone are not enough - the Sunday ferry sailings have been going on for a year now - what about all the dire consequences they predicted of that? Hmmm?

Anonymous said...

Maybe there are many people like myself that don't go to church. But we don't complain that there are to many churches in the town with decreasing numbers & object against them.

Not all premises that serve alcohol are violent. The golf club would be a good chill out place to go on a sunday to watch a game of football or have a meal with family without the worry of having rif raf there spoiling it for everyone.

Anonymous said...

The FCC comment about not having alcohol available on a Sunday "gives families with an alcoholic parent some sober relief on one day a week". That is tosh. An alcoholic will get alcohol in the same way that a drug addict will get drugs. The consequences of not getting alcohol does not provide an relief for the family (if there is one involved).
If the FCC is so concerned about the sale of alcohol, why does it not enciurages its members involved in the trade to cease & desist from doing so?

As usual, this is an attempt by the vocal minority forcing a fundamentalist life on us all.

Anonymous said...

I had to read this again... the pish these coories talk....

Anonymous said...

i think, speaking as a 'coorie' that it is a very good apiration - nevertheless i do acknowledge that aspiration it must remain!ls

Anonymous said...

This whole affair just looks like getting back at the Golf club for the Sunday game controversy. But absolutely bloody typical to see an island business (creating employment!) getting hammered through religious intolerance.

Anonymous said...

A quote from Angus "This objection reflects the reality on a Stornoway Sunday and addresses the grounds of over-provision, which is one of the aspect that the Board can genuinely take into account in coming to a conclusion."
Sorry, Angus, but this is not true. Clubs and othere establishments which held "grandfather rights" from the previous Licensing Act cannot have their applications refused on the grounds of over-provision. Consequently this objection was correctly ruled to be out of order by the Board's solicitor.

Angus said...

(Cllr?) Anon at 2:48 is absolutely correct.

I was trying to draw the distinction between relevant and irrelevant objections.

That a relevant objection was found to be invalid is a matter of legal advice that the Board members have to consider.

As a matter of legal process, the Board reject the objection on the advice of the Council Solicitor, so you can't pass that buck. (The Board have ignored legal advice from the Council Solicitor on many occasions!)

However, I will be most interested to see the grounds for refusal, which should be quite entertaining, albeit expensive for the public purse...

Anonymous said...

I think this is a sad day.

Anonymous said...

A sad day indeed.

The legality and accountability of the decision - more than questionable.

It is clear that the golf club meets all the requirements of the Licensing Act and could/can not be refused the license on any of the criteria on which refusal should have been considered. The councillors (3 church elders and 3 presumably with similar beliefs) who voted to refuse the license did so because it is against their religious beliefs and not because the club failed on any of the criteria on which the license could be turned down. If this is not the case let them state individually and publicly the reason for refusal, indicating which criteria the golf club does not meet, or are they not accountable for decisions.

The objections made against the application were incompetent, insulting and hardly stating the real reason behind them.

Rev Donald Macdonald for the LDOS is concerned it would result in drunks disturbing strollers in the surrounding scenic Castle Grounds and create more crime and disorder.

The club is open 6 other days a week without such concerns.

He suggests that showing televised sports in licensed premises exposes "children to violent behaviour and abusive behaviour" with an knock-on risk of domestic abuse and reduced family quality time.

Is he suggesting that this is the normal behaviour of the golf club and it’s members? I have never heard of such goings on.

He stressed: "The increased temptation for parents to spend their time in the golf club will cause untold harm to their children."

Is this prediction based on some form of statistically relevant research evidence?

C’mon LDOS lets just state it’s simply against your beliefs, the clue is in your name.

The Free Church Continuing warns that Stornoway suffers from alcohol fuelled violence and criminal behaviour.

How much of this emanates from the golf club?

They say that shut pubs on Sundays gives families with an alcoholic parent some sober relief on one day a week.

Pubs aren’t shut on Sundays, only sports facilities, so why not start campaigning to open the healthier more family friendly facilities and encourage drinkers out of the pubs and into the churches and sports facilities?

The church fears people could buy a carryout to drink it, outwith the control of the club, in the surrounding tree-secluded vicinity, possibly leading to anti-social conduct.

It’s a members club so I presume only members would be served, who I would presume rather drink in the comfort of the club. Ludicrous statement.

Murdo Murray who was an independent Christian candidate in the general election, argues it presents temptation to people enjoying a walk in the Castle Grounds on a Sunday afternoon and that there is more than sufficient licensed premises opened on Sundays in Stornoway.

Must be nice to enjoy an orange juice after a walk, I’ll have to join the club if they ever get a license.

A sad day indeed!

Anonymous said...

My feelings about the fire and brimstone "You Shalt Not Have Fun" protestors...

Anonymous said...

Some footage from the Comhairle board meeting deciding the golf club alcohol application.