Whalley Residents Voice Concerns Over Nightlife Impact

Residents in Whalley report that their lives are negatively affected by noise, damage, and anti-social behavior, including drug use and public intoxication at night. These concerns from Whalley residents emerged in response to a survey conducted by Ribble Valley Borough Council. The results of this survey have been submitted to the licensing committee. A local individual commented: “I think the nightclubs are open far too late. They leave such a mess, sick all over and rubbish and bottles at the side of the road.” County councillor Ged Mirfin, a Whalley resident, has advocated for 14 years for increased measures to address nighttime anti-social behavior. He stated: “We need more police on the beat, we need more PCSOs, we need people visiting the pubs in order to address the complaints of residents about drugs and people over drinking.” Whalley features several well-known restaurants, bars, and other establishments that operate late into the night. The survey specifically focused on the Whalley and Painter Wood area, aligning with the ward’s geographical limits. In their responses to the survey, 77% of participants indicated that they had experienced the combined effect of the numerous licensed establishments within the ward. One resident commented: “We’ve lived here 45 years. We don’t come out now, we used to, but there’s too many people around and it’s a bit rough.” A licensing framework known as the Whalley Cumulative Impact Assessment (CIA) was implemented in 2019 to govern future licensing applications. This framework mandates that any applicant seeking a new license or modifying an existing one must demonstrate that their proposed activities will not exacerbate existing issues. Since its introduction in 2019, there have been two applications for new licenses and one application for a variation. In these instances, no objections were submitted, no hearing was deemed necessary, the CIA was not activated, and the licenses were subsequently approved. The licensing committee for the borough has now decided to initiate a formal consultation process regarding the potential renewal of the CIA, which is scheduled to lapse next year. Councillor Mark Hindle, who represents Whalley and Painter Wood, stated: “Come to Whalley, have a good time and enjoy yourself, but take a bit of social responsibility. Look after yourselves and think about the beautiful place you’re coming to.” Listen to the best of BBC Radio Lancashire on Sounds and follow BBC Lancashire on Facebook, X and Instagram. You can also send story ideas to northwest.newsonline@bbc.co.uk and via Whatsapp to 0808 100 2230.Copyright 2024 BBC. All rights reserved. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. Read about our approach to external linking.