Published: February 23, 2007
Burnham-On-Sea Bowling Club's late nights plan gets the go-ahead

Burnham-On-Sea Bowling Club's controversial bid to extend its opening hours until 2am have this week been given the go-ahead.

Burnham-On-Sea.com was first to report on the club's original application last December, and although residents organised a petition to try and stop the application, Sedgemoor District Council's licensing panel this week decided that the club should be able to stay open until 2am on 24 days a year, instead of the current ten.

A petition of 10 people and two letters of objection from local residents failed to stop the unpopular application.

For its part, the 101-year-old bowling club says it costs £18,000 a year to run its operation in St Andrew's Road, and because it currently earns just £9,000 from membership fees, it needs to hold additional social events to earn extra money.

It says objections have mainly been regarding parking and traffic, even though these have not previously been a problem.

Cllr Gill Slocombe of the Licensing Panel said: "Considering the evidence heard, the concerns raised by the interested parties can adequately be addressed. But I want to make it clear that this decision can be reviewed."