Decision due on Carlton Park Hotel’s scaled-back midnight licence bid
Councillors are set to decide on plans for alcohol sales and live music at a Rotherham hotel, despite objections from residents.
Hotels and Resorts Ltd hopes to reopen the pub, bar and restaurant at Carlton Park Hotel on Moorgate Road for guests and the surrounding community.
But Councillor Taiba Yasseen and residents opposing the premises licence say women have reported feeling unsafe walking in the area amid complaints about street drinking, drug activity, intimidation and anti-social behaviour.
In her objection, Coun Yaseen wrote: "Residents and I, as councillor for Boston Castle Ward, have raised repeated and well documented concerns about street drinking, drug use, anti-social behaviour, intimidation, disorder and community safety."
Coun Yasseen said she received complaints about the area several times a week at the height of residents’ concerns in 2024, linking the rise in anti-social behaviour to the council’s decision to use Carlton Park Hotel as temporary accommodation for homeless people.
She said complaints had since fluctuated but concerns about street drinking, drug activity, theft and anti-social behaviour remained, with women in particular reporting that they felt unsafe in the area.
The revised application would allow alcohol to be sold for consumption on and off the premises between 10am and midnight every day.
Indoor live and recorded music would be permitted during the same hours, with the hotel normally closing by 12.30am.
Rotherham Council’s licensing sub-committee will determine the application on September 15 following objections from the licensing authority, Coun Yasseen and 36 other people.
The company behind the plan originally sought licensable activities from 8am and broadly defined extensions allowing some events to continue until 4am.
It has since withdrawn the 4am extensions and requests covering plays, dance and indoor sporting events.
Muhammad Fawad Mansoor, on behalf of the operator, said it did not intend to create a nightclub or unrestricted late-night entertainment venue.
Documents add that the company wanted to restore Carlton Park as a reputable hotel and hospitality venue and had substantially narrowed its plans after listening to residents.
"Carlton Park was historically a reputable and well-known hotel in Rotherham," state the applicant's documents.
"Our goal is to restore Carlton Park to that position and make it an asset to the local community again."
The operator said it had also stopped accepting general single-occupancy council placements. It may continue accommodating vulnerable single women and families awaiting permanent housing, limited to five rooms at a time.
The applicant has offered 24 conditions covering CCTV, Challenge 25 checks, drugs, staff training, security and customer dispersal.
Councillors can grant the licence as proposed, impose further restrictions or refuse all or part of the application.