An amended licensing policy, which includes a special ruling on “cumulative impact”, was given the green light at a full Council meeting on Tuesday evening after councillors said the number of licensed venues in the area had reached “saturation point”.
The new policy will be used to determine all applications for a premises licence or club premises certificate in future as well as current applications yet to be determined, along Wind Street, The Kingsway, High Street, College Street and the surrounding areas.
Applications are likely to be rejected if police, fire or health and safety officials fear the overall impact would increase alcohol-related incidents.
A Swansea Council spokesperson said: “The policy doesn’t prevent applications being made and each application will be determined on its own merits.
“If representations are received, applicants will have to prove to our Licensing Committee that their proposal won’t have a negative impact in the area.”
Earlier this week licensees in Swansea told the Publican’s Morning Advertiser that they welcomed the proposed measures and agreed that 250 licensed premises in the city was enough.
The policy, which also included legislative changes to licensing procedures under the Police Reform and Social Responsibility Act 2011, was issued for consultation in February and three responses were received.
Alcohol crime surge
South Wales Police Superintendent Paul Davies said he supported the cumulative impact policy “in its entirety”, adding that despite the fact the number of incidents in the Wind Street area had decreased by 8% during 2012-13, the number of alcohol-related incidents had increased by 21% over that time.
Meanwhile Dr G H Gruffudd, owner of the Ty Tawe shop on Christina Street, said: “It appears that most crimes, and the most serious ones, occur in areas where places whose main purpose is the sale of alcohol are open late at night.
“It would be worth carrying out a study into the impact on crime of the large venues which sell alcoholic drinks. The report shows that the number of crimes is comparatively low in streets where there are small establishments which also supply food. It could be beneficial if the licensing authority were to look favourably on such establishments, which clearly promote responsible drinking.”
The measures were proposed after a report by South Wales Police showed there were 963 alochol-related crimes in Wind Street alone in 2012-13 and policing the streets at night requires 20 officers working an average of 600 hours a week and costing nearly £600,000 a year.
A similar scheme has been introduced in Cardiff, covering areas around St Mary’s Street in the city centre.
The Licensing Authority also said they may consider introducing an early morning restriction order (EMRO) in the city at the meeting on Tuesday, if satisfied that it would be appropriate for the promotion of the licensing objectives.