Public health officials have raised concerns over JD Wetherspoon’s plans to reopen The Old Post Office Pub in Railway Street, Chatham. Wetherspoon’s application for a licence will be considered by a Medway Council licensing hearing panel next Friday. But a report set to go before the panel has raised concerns over the number of street drinkers in the area – which it calls “one of the most deprived areas in Medway”. The report is written by the council’s director of public health, Dr Alison Barnett, who says there are already 83 premises licensed to sell alcohol in a 1,000m radius of the pub, in Railway Street, which itself is in an Alcohol Control Zone. The reports adds that a high-percentage of crimes in the area are alcohol-related. Wetherspoon’s application, writes Dr Barnett, has failed to identify issues with crime and disorder in the area, failed to address public nuisance or public safety issues, and failed to identify how children can be protected from harm. Do you think that it would be a positive change for the reopening of The Old Post Office Pub? Will the reopening of the pub contribute to alcohol-related crime in the area? Be sure to let us know in the comments section on this post. Meanwhile, we have selected some of your comments posted on the Medway Messenger report published earlier today.
derek: The street drinkers are the alcoholics who just roam around all day, drinking at the taxpayers expense. Why would they go into Wetherspoons to buy a weak pint for around £3 when they can nip into a nearby shop and get 2 or 3 super tenants. Chatham over the year is dying in terms of nightlife, with just a few small shabby small pubs and restaurants left. This fantastic building is off no use being empty, oddly a major company is wanting to invest in Chatham - seems a no brainer and approve this with conditions straight away. Comments are closed.
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August 2023
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