New publicans must have police approval

NEW tenants that meet police approval are being sought for The Sportsman in Chadderton.

The future of the Denton Lane pub was left hanging after its licence was suspended before Christmas, following a spate of drug finds and hostile anti-police behaviour.

Officers collected cocaine from under a table near where children were playing and found a man snorting the drug in the toilets.

Enterprise Inns ordered premises holder Finbarr Tuite out of the pub on January 13 and shortly after the designated premises supervisor Andrew Nuttall, left of his own accord.

Oldham Council’s licensing panel met on yesterday — when the suspension was due to end — to discuss Greater Manchester Police’s review of the licence.

Councillor Fida Hussain, chairman of the panel, agreed to transfer the licence to Enterprise Inns and added conditions that must be adhered to as part of the licence — with security and appropriate training at the top of the list.

But the pub will not re-open until a suitable landlord or landlady has been vetted by Enterprise Inns and the police.

Jennie Powsney, acting for Greater Manchester Police said: “Public safety is at the top of the agenda in these new conditions.

“I am very pleased to say they have all been agreed by Enterprise Inns. No one wants to see a pub empty.”

Among conditions are:

::The new designated supervisor must give police notice of any absence of responsibility holders from the premises.

::All door supervisors will be security industry authority registered.

::A written record of door supervisors on duty must be recorded each evening.

::Intelligence on drug use is shared with police.

::CCTV capable of evidential quality is to be working at all times.

::Staff must be made aware of the Licensing Law and undertake required training.

::A strict challenge 25 policy, in which customers will be asked for ID if they look under 25, will also be introduced.

Richard Taylor, solicitor for Enterprise inns said: “PC (Geraldine) Cooper spoke to us and let us know there was a problem on December 21.

“It is no mean feat to put an end to a 10-year lease in three weeks but it has been done and Enterprise is in control of the premises.

‘We want a pub that at the heart of the community — not one that causes the police all sorts of problems.

“We are not going to re-open until such time that we have negotiated new tenants and the police are happy with the people who are going to run it.”

Councillor Hussain said the panel was glad that the licence was being transferred to Enterprise and that it would be finalised within five days.

Enterprise Inns also revealed that Mr Tuite runs another of its pubs in Manchester — but would not name it — which he will also be made to vacate.