COUNCILLORS have granted a controversial application to allow alcohol to be served at a visitor centre near Thomas Hardy's birthplace.

West Dorset District Council's licensing sub-committee met today at South Walks House to discuss the application.

Although leaseholder at the centre's cafe Sarah Key applied for a licence to serve alcohol up to midnight, the committee heard that the terms of the lease mean the premises can only stay open until 4pm.

The sub-committee heard representations against the application from a resident and Stinsford Parish Council. A total of 13 letters of objection had been submitted prior to the meeting.

Licensing officer Kathryn Miller said no objections had been received by relevant authorities including Environmental Health and Dorset Police.

The sub-committee dismissed an application by resident Paul Thomas to adjourn the hearing following claims that Dorset County Council, which leases part of the building to Miss Key, is considering a formal investigation into how the site is being used.

Chair of the sub-committee Keith Day said DCC’s position ‘is not relevant to us at a licensing hearing’.

Miss Key told the sub-committee that she simply wanted to serve alcohol to customers with lunch.

She added: “I didn’t mean for it to become such a battle. It’s not going to be a nightclub.”

Mr Thomas said the application was not in keeping with what was originally proposed for the site.

“We could end up with a Wetherspoons. It is supposed to be an informational and educational centre, not a restaurant. Serving alcohol would just be completely inappropriate in my opinion.”

Chair of Stinsford Parish Council Linda Payne claimed granting the licence would lead to increased criminality in the area around Thorncombe Woods, as well as disturb the wildlife that lives in the area.

Serving alcohol in an area designed to educate children also concerned her, she added.

“This was set up as a learning environment. We would not teach children where there are people drinking with lunch.”

In response to a question by Cllr Alan Thacker, she said that low level criminality in the area had always been an issue, not only since the visitor centre opened last year.

In response to a question by Cllr Stella Jones, Miss Kay said that a partition is planned to separate the cafe area from the part of the building used by visiting school children.

After retiring to consider their decision, Cllr Day said: "Although there were a significant number of comments, in reality few, if any, appear to be in direct conflict with the licensing objectives."