Chippy in Weston-super-Mare told to remove picnic tables over fears they could be used as weapons
Police have warned North Somerset Council that drunks could use them to cause a danger to people
A fish and chip shop in Weston-super-Mare has been ordered to remove picnic tables which the police think “could be used as weapons.”
Michelle Michael, who owns the Waterfront Fish Bar as well as the Grand Pier, has lost a battle with the police to keep the blue picnic tables outside the fish restaurant in place.
Police in the town had warned North Somerset Council that drunks could use them to cause a danger to people if they continued to be left out overnight.
The benches were bought by the chippy earlier this summer for use on the pedestrianised section of Regent Street outside the premises, as the heavy benches are unable to be blown away.
But they are also unable to be packed away into the small fish restaurant each night, as required by a condition in its licence.
Now a bid to remove that condition and allow the benches to stay out overnight has been quashed after North Somerset Council’s licensing subcommittee sided with the police. Police licensing officer Andy Manhire told a licensing hearing on September 2: “Any furniture that’s left can be used as weapons during the high risk late hours. … They could be thrown or moved, thereby causing a danger to pedestrians or vehicles.”
But Ms Michael pointed out the recycled plastic picnic tables weighed about 100kg each and were not “throwable.” She said: “We have been operating the site since 2010 and we have not seen any anti-social behaviour involving the use of furniture.”
She added that lighter picnic tables were in use at Bistrot Pierre, just across the square, but was told they were outside of council control as they were on private property. Mr Manhire added that, unlike Bistrot Pierre, the Waterfront benches were located in the “flow of drunks” down Regent Street.
Chairing the licensing subcommittee, councillor Peter Burden said: “We have decided that we are not going to accept the request and the condition will stand.” The council will not enforce their decision immediately to give the fish restaurant time to make arrangements.
Even if the council allowed the benches to stay outside, new rules about pavement cafe furniture expected to be adopted by the council in January will ban the use of picnic tables which are not designed to allow use by wheelchair users.