Licensing committee discuss future of a Conwy community club – decision due next week

The future of a Conwy community club will be decided in the next few days after complaints about loud music, anti-social behaviour, and fighting.

At a double hearing held by Conwy’s sub-licensing committee yesterday morning, Conwy Comrades Sports and Social Club officials told the council and police they were determined to make the club a better resource for the community.

The double hearing consisted of a review of both the club’s certificate and premisses certificate.

But the committee heard how recent meetings between police, the council’s environmental department, and the Conwy Comrades Sports and Social Club’s new management team had gone well.

A decision on the club’s future will now follow within five working days and likely include a range of measures – if the licence to operate is not cancelled.

Yesterday we reported how the council had called for a review of the club’s licence following loud music, anti-social behaviour, and mass brawls outside the club on Church Street, leading to dozens of resident complaints since July 2019.

The council even reported how people had been stamped on and knocked unconscious during a mass brawl involving as many as 60 people last Christmas Eve.

But club representatives attended the hearing, promising that a new management team was working on a new noise management plan and dispersal policy – amongst a range of measures aimed at improving the way the club is run.

Senior environmental health officer Lianne Martin told the sub-committee, including chair Cllr Phillip Evans, that meetings with the club’s new management team gave residents hope.
“We did have a very productive meeting on Monday. Since 2019 I’ve been trying to get someone to take responsibility for the club,” she said.
“I did find it quite refreshing that someone was taking responsibility. We’ll require more work. But from my point of view, for the first time since 2019, there may be a light for residents.”

Gareth Williams was speaking at the hearing on behalf of the club
“You can clearly, hopefully, see from the documents that the tone in which we are carrying out our business now is much more conciliatory,” he said.
“We definitely want to work with you guys and the police – I can’t wait actually – I enjoy working with people in a collaborative fashion. I look forward to seeing where this club is today and where we can be in the weeks and months ahead, to something we can all be proud of, and make Conwy proud. That is something I think we can achieve in the weeks and months and years ahead.”

Mr Aaron Haggas from North Wales Police added: “I think it is indicative really of where we are that communication has failed, not for the want of trying.

“Here’s hope that now we have had the opportunity to meet pre-hearing and the meeting for local residents that the club’s management and committee understand the seriousness of the situation, and that going forward we can implement measures to ensure the club is a welcome and valued part of the local community.”

By Richard Evans – Local Democracy Reporter