Neighbours have objected to plans for a late-night rooftop bar at a shisha lounge along a busy road in Northampton.West Northamptonshire Council’s alcohol and gambling licensing sub-committee will discuss on Monday (July 27) whether to grant a new premises licence for Kaja Lounge, at 6 Harlestone Road, formerly home to Jimmy’s Rooftop Bar. The application, submitted by Saimer Hyka, seeks permission to sell alcohol from midday until 2am every day, alongside live and recorded music, late-night refreshment and opening hours until 2.30am.While no objections have been received from responsible authorities, including the police, three nearby residents have formally objected to the application.Kaya Lounge at 6 Harlestone RoadOne resident said they feared “excessive noise from the venue past any acceptable hour” from loud music, shouting and customers leaving in the early hours of the morning.The objector also raised concerns about light pollution, parking, public safety and antisocial behaviour, adding the venue would create “an unacceptable social environment for such a densely populated residential area” because of the sound, light and disruption it could bring.A second resident said previous music events at the premises “could be heard within nearby homes throughout the day time and into early hours of the morning”, adding there had been “little to no regard for the local community” over noise levels. They also said parking in the area is already limited and later opening hours would make the problem worse.A third objector said “sound will travel incredibly easily without the containment of standard walls and roofing” and warned the proposed opening hours would cause “severe sleep disruption to nearby residential properties”.They also said customers leaving at 2am would disturb nearby residents by shouting, slamming car doors and waiting for taxis, and urged councillors to restrict the venue’s hours, adding “11pm would be fair to the residents of St James”.A report prepared for the committee says the main issue for councillors is whether the application would undermine the licensing objective of preventing public nuisance.Councillors can grant the licence, grant it with conditions, remove some of the activities applied for or refuse the application. A decision must be made by the sub-committee within the period of five working days beginning the day on which the hearing was held.Continue Reading
Neighbours object to plans for late-night rooftop bar at shisha lounge along busy road in Northampton
