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A decision made (20.04.07) to approve the requests for alfresco areas at 9 Caledonia Place, 11 Cheapside, 27 Esplanade, The Town House and The 'S' Bar.

Subject:	Request for “Alfresco” Areas at:- 9 Caledonia Place (Bentley’s) 11 Cheapside Café 27 Esplanade The Town House, New Street The “S” Bar La Motte Street
Decision Reference:	MD–T–2007-0039		Exempt clause(s):
Type of Report: (oral or written)	Written		Person Giving Report (if oral):	N/A
Telephone or e-mail Meeting?	N/A		Report File ref:	I:Minister:2007:Ministerial Decisions:MD0039 Alfresco Areas x 5
Written report – Title	Request for “Alfresco” Areas at:- 9 Caledonia Place (Bentley’s) 11 Cheapside Café 27 Esplanade The Town House, New Street The “S” Bar La Motte Street
Written report – Author (name and job title)	Dave St George Transport Policy Manager
Decision(s): The Minister approved the request for “alfresco” areas at 9 Caledonia Place, 11 Cheapside, 27 Esplanade and The Town House New Street. The request for an alfresco area at the “S” bar was not approved.
Reason(s) for decision: “Alfresco” areas are normally supported where pedestrians can be safely accommodated, and there are no other obvious disadvantages to the public. With the expectation of the “S” Bar, where a valuable unloading bay would be lost and an alfresco area created in a potential hazardous position, the requests can be supported as they can be considered to contribute to the vibrancy and economy of the town centre.
Action required: Inform the Connétable of St Helier who administers requests for alfresco Licences under the Customary Law (Chose Publiques) (Jersey) Law 1993, as well as the applicants.
Signature: (Minister/ Assistant Minister)		Date of Decision:

Alfresco areas - requests

TRANSPORT AND TECHNICAL SERVICES

REQUEST FOR “ALFRESCO” AREAS AT : -

9 CALEDONIA PLACE (BENTLEY’S)

11 CHEAPSIDE CAFE

27 ESPLANADE (THE TASTE)

THE TOWN HOUSE NEW STREET

THE “S” BAR LA MOTTE STREET

Purpose of the Report

The Connétables of the Parishes administer “Alfresco” licences on public roads through the provisions of the Customary Law (Choses Publique) (Jersey) Law 1993, but are required to gain the consent of the Minister when the area is administered by Transport and Technical Services, as is the case in these instances.

Background

Requests for an “alfresco“ dining area have been received from the 5 establishments listed above and as shown on the attached sketches.

Discussion

9 Caledonia Place

The proposed alfresco area of 2.4m width by 5.2m length will require pedestrians to be displaced onto the carriageway. It would be preferable to widen the granite footway, however the area is to be subject to redevelopment when the bus station moves to the new Transportation Centre and therefore it is considered that dropped kerbs and bollards to protect a revised pedestrian route of equivalent width to existing would be acceptable in the short term. One scratch card parking space would be lost, however this is not considered grounds for objection as all the parking spaces on that roadway will be lost when the area is redeveloped following the bus station relocation. The current application has yet to be submitted to the Parish of St Helier as at the time of the application the land was expected to be transferred to the Waterfront Enterprise Board. As this transfer is still awaited WEB’s officers have confirmed their support for the “alfresco” area at least until the end of 2007, after which time redevelopment may commence at any time. Until the transfer of land takes place the alfresco area would require a licence from the Connétable of St Helier.

11 Cheapside

A small “alfresco” area is proposed (0.8m by 2.0m) as shown on the attached sketch. The footpath is wide at the area in question, enabling the alfresco area to be provided whilst leaving a minimum of 2.15m for pedestrians to pass by. The proposal has been approved by the Parish Roads Committee.

27 Esplanade “The Taste”

A small “alfresco” area is proposed (0.95m by 7.0m) at 27 the Esplanade. The footpath is wide enough (2.76m) to accommodate the alfresco area and leave sufficient width (1.81m) for pedestrians to pass by, given the current use of that road and footpath. The applicant should be aware however that the area will be subject to substantial redevelopment in the future and the licence could be withdrawn at some point in the future should changing circumstances require it to be.

The Town House New Street

A substantial alfresco area is proposed (1.5m by 20m) in New Street. The applicant proposes to widen the footpath in an area currently used infrequently as a bus layby to enable pedestrians to pass alongside the “alfresco” area. The bus layby is used more as an illegal unloading area than as a bus stop and is not considered essential, being used infrequently as a drop off only point for the route 4, which would be able to continue to drop off in the road way with other vehicles waiting behind. The current footpath is approximately 2m width and the proposal would need to ensure that that footpath width was maintained. The proposals have been approved in principle by the Parish Roads Committee subject to the comments of TTS.

The “S” Bar La Motte Street

The tenant of the “S” bar in La Motte Street, Mr Simon, has asked that permission be given to establish an alfresco area in La Motte Street immediately around the bend from Colomberie. Mr Simon wrote to the Department in June 06 asking for the Department’s views on using the unloading bay adjacent to the premises for the “alfresco” and converting a section of parking further east along the street from scratch card parking to an unloading facility. Mr Simon was advised that the Department would not support this suggestion as the unloading bay was in constant use by the many businesses in the adjacent area. Mr Simon has appealed for reconsideration and his correspondence is attached.

When the footpaths were widened in Colomberie the unloading bay in question was an essential part of the scheme to ensure that businesses in Colomberie, Queen Street and La Motte Street would have adequate servicing. The proposed “alfresco” area would remove that unloading bay and result in the public consuming alcohol on the roadside immediately beyond a sharp bend for traffic entering La Motte Street from Colomberie. It is not therefore considered that the Department could support this request in its current form.

An urban renewal scheme is being considered for La Motte Street and the proposal for an alfresco could be reconsidered when the details of that scheme are known.

Recommendation

The Minister is recommended to approve: -

The proposed alfresco area of 2.4m by 5.2m at 9 Caledonia Place for 2007, with provision for pedestrians to divert onto the existing road way, accommodation works to the Department’s specification, including the removal of one parking space. Any use beyond 2007 would be dependent on potential transfer of land to the Waterfront Enterprise Board.

The proposed “alfresco” area of 0.8m by 2.0m at 11 Cheapside.

The proposed “alfresco” area of 0.95m by 7.0m at 27 the Esplanade.

The proposed “alfresco” area of 1.5m by 20m at the Town House New Street, with footpath widening to the Department’s specification.

The Minister is recommended to refuse the request from the “S” bar for an “alfresco” area in La Motte Street on the existing unloading bay.

Reason(s) for Decision

Alfresco areas are normally supported where pedestrians can be safely accommodated, and there are no other obvious disadvantages to the public. With the expectation of the “S” Bar, where a valuable unloading bay would be lost and an alfresco area created in a potential hazardous position, the requests can be supported as they can be considered to contribute to the vibrancy and economy of the town centre.

Action Required

Inform the applicants and the Connétable of St Helier.

Written by:	David St George

Approved by:	Caroline Anderson - Transport

Attachments:

Letter and plan from the Parish of St Helier dated 11th April 20076

DStG 38/5

13 April 2007