Police objection to venue’s bid to open until 3am

POLICE have objected to popular Cardiff venue Tramshed extending its opening hours because it could see a rise in crime.

The 1,200-capacity music and arts centre on Clare Road in Grangetown wants to open until 3am on up to 25 nights of the year for “special events.”

But South Wales Police has objected to the application because the force believes the longer opening hours will see an increase in crime and disorder.

Police also fear there will be an increase of noise and disturbance in the early hours if the application is approved.

Chief Inspector Joe Jones, in a letter to Cardiff council’s licensing sub-committee, said there has recently been “significant police support at high-risk events to prevent disorder” at Tramshed.

“With the extension of hours, South Wales Police believe there will be an increase of further incidents of crime and disorder at the premises and in the immediate vicinity,” he said.

“The premises is situated on a residential street. The capacity of the premises is around 1,200 persons which means that when the premises closes during the requested extended hours there will be a significant number of intoxicated customers leaving the premises onto a residential street where there will be a likelihood of noise and disruption to local residents.”

Mr Jones added South Wales Police has had to put on a temporary road closure after a recent event which finished after 10pm to ensure people’s safety leaving the premises.

“Officers also had to walk along the outside of the premises collecting glass bottles from the floor and roadside left by persons queueing for the event to prevent harm to persons passing the venue,” he said.

The committee will consider Tramshed’s application on Friday, April 6.

Three Grangetown councillors Ashley Lister, Lynda Thorne and Abdul Sattar, have also objected.

Cllr Lister, on behalf of the three councillors, said: “Some residents have raised concerns about the queuing to enter the venue, mainly around the crowds which are generated and generally block footpaths for periods of time. We have also been informed of some issues around street-drinking, as well as slow and rowdy dispersal of crowds from some events at the venue, impacting not only on the street scene in terms of litter, but also having an anti-social impact on residents in neighbouring streets. We do not feel it would be fair to expect residents to tolerate environmental and noise pollution for 25 occasions a year until 3am, when the issues are already existing at earlier closing times.”

South Wales Police has requested a number of security measures if the later hours are allowed, including that security staff wear CCTV cameras at all times, and drinks are not served in glass.

Police have also requested all licensable activities in the outside area to stop at 9pm and that under-18s are not admitted after midnight – a condition which the Tramshed accepts.

Tramshed has also agreed to operate a dispersal policy after live events, to notify the police and Cardiff council of any late-night events 21 days in advance, restrict queuing and to help punters order taxis to get home quickly.

The Tramshed has put forward steps to tackle some of the problems including restrictions on queuing and giving the council and police 21 days notice before late night events.

A spokesman from the venue said: “The Tramshed is slightly disappointed about the objections raised as we have been working alongside the authorities in a consultation process throughout the application.