Controversial plans for a 'relaxed and stylish' cafe and bar in a busy Chichester street have been dropped.
The scheme ran into strong opposition from local residents and businesses – and from a company building a new 72-home development nearby.
One objector claimed the area could be 'blighted' by noise pollution.
A meeting of the district council's li
censing and gambling act
sub-committee was arranged for last Thursday, to decide an application from Your Nights Out Ltd for a licence for premises in St Pancras.
But the application was withdrawn, and the meeting cancelled.
A council spokesman said it had worked closely with everyone involved in the case, including the applicants, neighbours and resident groups, the police, environmental services and councillors.
"The council is keen to support businesses but also has a duty of care
to ensure that all parties are heard and the licensing objectives which underpin the Licensing Act 2003 are promoted," he added.
Following this process, and before the case was determined by the
sub-committee, the applicants decided to withdraw their application due to the conditions they believed would be attached and enforced against the licence if it was granted.
The Hornet and St Pancras Association said in a letter to the
council that with two other establishments in this short section of St Pancras able to provide late-night entertainment, a third, seven days a week, would stretch police resources.
"This narrow section of St Pancras is already polluted by nitrogen dioxide some 140 per cent above the government limit," it added.
"So to allow a late-night (early-morning) licence every day of the week will make the occupation of some 96 houses – including 72 in the Eastgate development – within 120 metres of the premises almost untenable."
Some people, including those sleeping at the Nag's Head, would have a 'living nightmare' if the application was granted. Seaward Properties said they were currently building 72 new homes to the side and rear of the application site.
"The application is for live and recorded music very close to this
residential area," they added.
"The potential late-night noise levels this close to residential property would need to be carefully controlled, and we are not aware of any acoustic protection having been installed to reduce noise levels to an acceptable level."
One of the letters written to the council by local residents demanded: "Are we going to be blighted by noise as well as air pollution in this tiny pocket of Chichester, which is fast becoming environmentally hazardous to live in, it seems, making the position of residents untenable?"
Another said: "Due to the nature of this business – one which concentrates on high alcohol consumption and late-night drinking – there is a fear of loud aggressive behaviour and fights ensuing outside my home."
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