Everybody Needs Good Neighbours

License and planning applications have been submitted for 13 Moulsham St, Chelmsford. The new business called “The Only Way Is Gin” plan to operate a Gin distillery, school and bar. This will bring a new gin experience to the vibrant city of Chelmsford along with a range of boutique craft gins, with botanicals celebrating Essex and it’s landscape. Read more here.

The applications are being opposed by their neighbours the Chelmsford Muslim Society, who have operated a mosque next door for 40 years. The CMS are of course also the owners of the Hamptons.

Their objections focus on an anticipated rise in crime, disorder, public nuisance and unsurprisingly Islamophobia. They also cite concerns of the abuse of worshippers especially the young an elderly.

You’d think from the 27 objections from members of the mosque that the area suffers with terrible public order problems…it doesn’t. In fact there has been no objection or representation from Essex Police. Likewise the Childrens Safeguarding Sevices, the Public Protection Team and Enviromental Health.

The premises to which the application relates, already has a premises licence. The licence was granted in July 2018 and the licensing officers are unaware of any complaints having been received by the Council.

Read the full application (and objections) here.

Even the Licensing Officer concedes that the objections seem to motivated by religious and moral views rather than genuine concerns. Ladies and gentlemen the elephant is in the room. We fully respect everyone’s right to object, but to suggest a huge public order issue is disingenuous.

If you add this to the context of the Hamptons, the first thing the CMS did upon completion is close the bars. But of course that was a business decision and not based on religious and moral views.

This is not the first time that the Chelmsford Muslim Society have attempted to prevent the legitimate use of the neighbouring premises, they did the same in 2009. Clearly they see the paved area outside as their sole property for congregating post prayer, and the sale of alcohol next door to be inappropriate.

The post lockdown economy will need new businesses to open in Moulsham St, there are already too many empty shops. We really hope that the Licencing Committee see the objections for what they are and grant the license with the appropriate conditions.

The meeting can be viewed online Thursday (21/05) at 2pm here.

We also urge you to support the planning application by commenting here.