Attercliffe nightclub early hours opening plan opposed by police

The application for Zambezi Lounge in a former Yorkshire Bank branch at 580 Attercliffe Road will be discussed by a meeting of Sheffield City Council’s licensing sub-committee next Tuesday (October 31). The applicant’s name is listed in committee papers as Earnest Muzvidzwa.

The council’s health protection service has objected about safety issues including the need for safety glass, ventilation, fire escape routes and regulation of an outside smoking area.

The council environmental protection service (EPS) also voiced concerns. In a letter to the applicant it stated: “The proposed (venue) is located in a mixed commercial and residential area with relatively low background noise levels throughout the late evening.

“As such there is an enhanced potential for licensed activity at the premises to give rise to complaints relating to public nuisance. In particular, the EPS is concerned that residents in close proximity will potentially be affected by excessive noise disturbance of both noise breakout of regulated entertainment and patrons outside the premises.”

It added: “The building is not fit for purpose for the proposed use as a late night bar/nightclub” because of the potential for sound to break out of the listed building.

The EPS said that a temporary licence granted for an event on September 2 resulted in a complaint from a member of the public about being disturbed by loud noise and noise from people outside the venue.

It recommended a closing time of midnight with all licensable activities to cease at 11.30pm. South Yorkshire Police agreed with those timings.

The applicants were asking for a licence to open until 3am on Friday, 4am on Saturday and 3.30am on Sunday. They later offered to close at midnight on Friday and Sunday and 2am on Saturday.

This was rejected by police licensing officers.

A local resident lodged a complaint about the venue, which had been operating with a temporary events licence. They wrote: “Over the last few weeks, loud music, shouting and screaming has been heard until the early hours, their guests have also been parking all over the pavements and bus stops, which has caused pedestrians to have to walk on the road.

“Due to the already high amount of issues with anti-social behaviour, drugs etc in the immediate area I can only surmise that this will increase or inflate the already existing problems.

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“The police and council are already aware of the issues in the area, which are yet to be resolved. A nightclub is not going to help improve these issues.”

They said the building was not soundproofed, adding: “Attercliffe is ready for a redevelopment to improve the area so please will you take this into consideration.”

The licensing hearing taking place at 10am at the town hall will allow the applicant and all interested parties to put their case forward for decision. The meeting will be open to the public and can be watched via webcast on the council website.

The council has launched a 10-year action plan to regenerate Attercliffe using £17m government Levelling Up funding. Plans include bringing new life to the high street, refurbishing the old Adelphi cinema building as an education and cultural centre, building new riverside homes and improving transport links.