More areas could get Wickersley-style licensing restrictions in council review
Wickersley has been a Cumulative Impact Zone for six years
It should become clear in the New Year whether any other areas of Rotherham face having Wickersley style Cumulative Impact Zone status imposed by the council.
If that happened, it would create new hurdles for anyone wanting to open additional licensed premises in any areas covered.
To succeed, they would have to demonstrate that their proposals would not add to pressures caused by the presence of another business.
Wickersley has a dense area of licensed premises along a street of Bawtry Road and Rotherham Council brought in the zone in 2020 to help regulate the way the area developed.
It is the only area of Rotherham to be controlled by such a restriction, which is available under national legislation, but it also has to be reviewed every three years.
Rotherham Council’s ruling cabinet have authorised that work to go ahead, meaning residents, businesses and other bodies with an interest in the area will be consulted over eight weeks to establish whether the CIZ status should be renewed.
But the council is also taking the opportunity to conduct a borough-wide review, to decide whether any other areas justify having similar controls in place.
The Wickersley zone was introduced because the council believed the density of licensed businesses was adversely affecting a residential suburb.
When the last review was conducted, in 2023, there were 23 licensed premises within 300 metres of Bawtry Road, with more than half of them pubs or bars.
The area is regarded as the focus of Rotherham’s evening economy, but that has brought complaints about disturbance and anti-social behaviour.
There has been no indication from the council about which other areas of Rotherham may come under scrutiny for potential zones to be set up.
In Wickersley, the Olive Branch restaurant and bar has just applied to Rotherham Council for permission to extend its premises.
That would increase its floor-space by around 20 per cent, from the existing 260 square metres to 316.
If approved, it is expected the development would mean a slight increase in staffing levels at the business, from three full-time and three part-time employees, to four part-timers.