New controls for pavement cafes?

CONTINENTAL-style pavement cafes and bars in Warrington may be subject to new controls if a borough council proposal is accepted.
Officers expect that new regulations will see the development of Warrington Cafe Society alongside the growth of existing pedestrianised areas to give the town a “cosmopolitan” feel. They hope this will make the town more attractive to visitors and tourists.
The rules will offer strict guidelines on outdoor venues, including seating, displays and opening hours. They will also ensure cafes are run in a safe way to protect pedestrians and users, especially those with impaired vision, in wheelchairs or with prams.
Licensing officer Val Atherton is proposing to the Licensing Regulatory Committee that application procedures are changed.
Proposals are to transfer the responsibility for issuing pavement cafe licenses (for cafes that obstruct the highway) from the Highway Section to the Licensing Section and Committee.
The licensing officer will determine most applications, but complex issues or those where there are objections will be considered by a special sub-committee of the License Committee.
Fees for new licenses will be £650, for renewal £450 and transfer of licenses £150. New licenses will have a limited fee free period.
It is expected that pavement cafe licenses will generate an income of between £5,000 and £10,000 a year when fees are fully implemented and income will go towards the cost of employing a licensing enforcement officer.
Val said: “The licensing regime will prevent uncontrolled and inappropriate pavement cafes throughout the borough and ensure that the cafes are effectively monitored and managed.”
She said that currently there is little uptake in applications for pavement cafe licenses and that many operators do not bother applying for a license. She said the changes in procedures are to cope with the increase in Warrington Cafe Society and to give the council more control.
She said that recent legislation banning smoking in licensed premises has resulted in a move to provide outdoor seating areas not currently covered by the legislation.
It is expected that between 10 and 20 applications will be received across the borough, Applications will be subject to planning permission.