A VENUE’S bid to open a mobile bar at Seaham Carnival has been snubbed over safeguarding and public safety fears.

Earlier this year, Port of Call, off North Terrace, Seaham, applied to Durham County Council for a temporary event notice (TEN).

This included the sale of alcohol at a pop-up bar outside the venue between 9am-10pm on Saturday, July 20 and Sunday, July 21.

During consultation, Durham Constabulary objected to the plans, triggering a special licensing hearing at Durham County Hall.

Neighbourhood inspector, Rachel Stockdale, told the meeting the objection did not aim to restrict business and stemmed from the “principle” of an outdoor bar.

This included “bringing a bar area into the public domain” and the potential crime and disorder it could create.

Insp Stockdale said: “When considering the protection of children from harm which includes the moral harm, there has been a lot done with the schools and Seaham Town Council around previous events.

“The feedback from schools was that children felt intimidated, they didn’t like being surrounded by adults consuming alcohol.

“This year, taking that feedback on board, the town council have roped off an area for children so they’re not subjected to being surrounded by people drinking.”

She added: “This is about a larger family event and making sure we make it safe for the children and people who are going there around these premises.”

The Seaham Carnival, which has been held since 2000, is expected to attract between 10,000 and 17,000 visitors this year.

In this context, police added placing a bar on the public highway could create issues around public safety.

Police also confirmed they would work with off-licences and supermarkets to limit alcohol sales over the carnival weekend.

Insp Stockdale said: “I want to make it clear, this is not a police vendetta around a particular premises, this is around a wider event where we don’t necessarily want the flood gates to open.

“We’re happy to work with the premises to ensure it’s safe and effective, we’re not looking to change their licence in any way, we’re encouraging on and off-sales and the support they can give us.

“In my opinion, it’s putting the bar outside which is about increasing profit for the location and this premises at the detriment of the event and possible safeguarding of children.”

Port of Call bosses told the hearing that they submitted the TEN notice under advice from a Pubwatch meeting.

Company director, Adam Dickman, said that outside bars had been accepted in Seaham until an incident in 2018 when a trader set up a unlicensed bar – which was later closed down by police.

He also told the meeting there could be issues with people buying booze from nearby supermarkets and drinking it at the festival.

The difference at Port of Call, he explained, included increased checks, door staff and making sure “people don’t have one too many.”

“The good part on our side is we can also enforce the licensable activities,” he added.

“The only people who can control those people having the sixth and seventh drink, which is arguably where the problems start, is us.”

Following discussion, the statutory licensing sub-committee agreed to refuse the application for the mobile bar.

Sub-Committee chair, Coun Jan Blakey, said: “We have real issues with the safeguarding and the public safety on the highway.

“We have to take our families into consideration, they’re bombarded at every opportunity with alcohol advertising.

“With part of it being a family day, the siting of the bar outside in the view of children wouldn’t be the right way to go.”

The meeting heard that there would be no outside alcohol sales from vendors at the carnival.

Event organisers, Seaham Town Council will also hire private security for the event.