Opposing council laws on CCTV traps licensee

by John Harrington

Planning authorities could force a Suffolk host to take down his CCTV system despite the fact that fitting security cameras is recommended in his council's draft licensing policy.

Adnams, which owns the King's Head pub in its iconic seaside home town of Southwold, said the episode demonstrates the conflicts that can exist between the planning and licensing branches of the same council.

King's Head tenant Graham Dungey fitted two CCTV cameras outside the Grade II-listed pub in September at a cost of £8,000. But planning authorities at Waveney District Council said planning permission was needed for the CCTV because they were placed on a listed building in a conservation area. Planning officers recommended that the pub ditch the cameras after a complaint was lodged.

However, Dungey pointed out that the council's draft licensing policy recommends pubs have CCTV in and outside their premises as part of their operating schedule.

He said: "I understand that planning authorities and committees are there to protect conservation areas and listed buildings. However, this [building] is maintained by being a pub and in the running of my business. I think there's a bit of a compromise to be reached here."

Steve Manning, Adnams' head of tied estate, said: "It is almost inevitable that on listed properties, particularly those in protected conservation areas such as Southwold, there may rise conflict between Council departments as they make decisions that will adhere to the Licensing Act."

Dungey added that police, Southwold Town Council, and most residents are in favour of keeping the cameras because they can be used to detect criminals leaving the town. He said he fitted CCTV to prove that his customers did not cause incidents of rowdiness in Southwold. The host suggested that the complaint might be a "vendetta" from a local resident who was unhappy about being disturbed as a result of booming trade at the pub, which has seen sales triple since the new host arrived one year ago.

Planning officers also recommended that the pub should apply for planning permission for the A-board signs outside the building because these could obscure a driver's views of pedestrians. They added that retrospective planning permission would be needed for the flower boxes outside the pub.