BRIDGWATER’S newest bowling alley has been granted a licence, despite residents’ concerns about noise and antisocial behaviour from the sale of alcohol.

Allstars (Taunton) Ltd has applied to run a ten pin bowling alley within the Northgate redevelopment, which will also include a seven-screen cinema, bars, restaurants and a gym.

The regeneration is being led by Sedgemoor District Council (which owns the site), with plans for the entire scheme being approved in June – though construction has not yet started.

The council has now granted Allstars a licence to run the bowling alley within the site – despite local residents claiming it will lead to public drunkenness, antisocial behaviour and “drug addicts weeing in the hedge” of a nearby park.

The new bowling alley will operate on the first floor of a new block at the eastern end of the site, with restaurants being located on the ground floor.

The business will be able to stay open until 12.30am on week-nights and until 1.30am on weekends and bank holidays, with alcohol, dancing and live or recorded music all being permitted on site.

Neighbouring residents put their concerns to the council’s licensing and gambling panel when it convened virtually on Thursday morning (September 24).

Caroline Leavy said she was not against Bridgwater having a bowling alley, but felt it should be located on an out-of-town site to discourage anti-social behaviour.

She said: “This is just going to attract more of the problems that we have already. You get teenagers drinking in the park already and driving around.

“Having live music throughout the week is not considerate to residents, especially those who work shifts.

“I’m all for new things coming to Bridgwater, as it has gone downhill as a town. If Allstars was somewhere else, not near my home, I would be in favour of it. Putting it here will attract more trouble.

“You don’t want to be going through the park and find drug addicts weeing in the hedge.“

Karen Pearson added: “It is totally unacceptable to have all-day drinking next to a primary school.

“The hours are ridiculous for the residential area behind the proposed building. Blacklands residents already suffer from noise, people urinating, vomiting, shouting at all hours, and vandalism and car damage.”

Mark Innalls claimed the local police were indifferent to the current levels of antisocial behaviour happening around the site – and alleged the area had earned a reputation for public sexual acts.

He said: “There has been a ongoing issue with people loitering and using the Brewery Field and car park as a meeting place, as well as a late-night toilet and place for sex.

“Having a bar that is open ’til the early hours is only going to make those matters a lot worse.

“It’s difficult to express how bad things are there at the moment, in terms of things being out of control.

“The fact the police haven’t showed up today speaks volumes – no interest at all.”

Avon and Somerset Constabulary did not send a personal representative to the hearing, with a written statement indicating their initial concerns had been resolved through a series of conditions on any licence granted.

Matthew Phipps, the solicitor representing the applicant, said the presence of a bowling alley would actually improve Bridgwater town centre rather than adding to existing problems.

He said: “We don’t agree the hours of operation are excessive – they are proportionate and proper for this kind of business.

“There’s nothing to support the contention that bowling alleys become late-night drinking venues anywhere in the country.

“Our view is that the development as a whole is a really positive development for Bridgwater and for us. We will be a force for positive change that will improve the area significantly.”

After half an hour’s debate in confidential session, the panel voted to grant Allstars a licence to run the bowling alley, with the proviso that it would not sell alcohol for consumption off the premises after 10pm.

Councillor Polly Costello, who chaired the panel, said: “When the development is completed, this should hopefully reduce the noise and inconvenience to the residents.

“There is no evidence that the issues they raise would result from a licence granted to Allstars.

“While the objectors’ concerns over the proximity of this premises to a school is understanding, there is no evidence that this will cause any public nuisance requiring special measures beyond the conditions agreed by the applicant.”