POLICE objections to a pub opening late have been withdrawn – after they conceded the Pink tribute and drag queen act may not "increase the violent crime in the area" after all.
Baileys bar applied to open until 5am this Saturday and Sunday – two hours later than usual – but police objected, writing that the events "undermine the prevention of crime and disorder licensing objective".
The letter also stated that the events – a Pink tribute act and drag queen from Hull known as Lucy Garter – would "have a detrimental impact on the area and potentially increase violent crime".
However, the objection was withdrawn at the last minute and the events will now go ahead.
Jennifer Parker, manager of the West St Mary's Gate pub, said: "I'm glad that we are back on track, but I was a bit confused by the objection in the first place – our doormen work very closely with the police against the behaviour they are concerned about."
The North East Lincolnshire Council licensing sub-committee were due to meet on Monday to resolve the issue – but it was cancelled after a similar meeting on Friday.
The Lite House, in Cleethorpes, applied to open an extra hour until 5am on Sunday, May 6 and May 27, but a meeting was called after police objected – and went ahead even though a last-minute deal between police and management had already been reached.
Councillor Steve Beasant (Lib, East Marsh) called the meeting a waste of time and money, and Daniel Guiver, representing the force, apologised.
Mr Guiver said that the issue was caused by a blanket policy of objecting to applications to open after 4am – which has now been abandoned as police promised to consider individual cases on their own merit.
And while Miss Parker is glad that the Baileys events are back on, she thinks the debacle was "totally pointless".
She said: "The idea that there was a blanket policy doesn't make sense considering I have had at least ten licence extensions over the past 18 months – and no one objected to any of them.
"Everything is going ahead, but this has taken a lot of time and could have cost a lot of money if we had taken legal advice."
A spokesman for Humberside Police said: "Each licence application is taken and reviewed on its own merit to ensure the safety of the public moving forward.
"Where possible, this is done in conjunction with the licensee so we can directly address concerns about the application and look to put measures in place to assist it or provide feedback on why it would not go through.
"Until recently, police in North East Lincolnshire trialed a policy which effectively rejected all applications to extend opening hours past 4am. However, this policy proved not to be effective and has subsequently been removed.
"Our work with licensees and local nightspots is always developing as we work to find the best way forward, so we will, on occasion, try something which doesn't work – at which point we will address the problem and look for a better way, as in this instance."
The Pink tribute is playing this Saturday night and Lucy Garter on Sunday evening.
