Dudley pub once labelled 'a danger to the public' is granted new licence

Representatives for The Queens Cross, formerly The Earl of Dudley Arms, on Wellington Road, say the gang situation in the area has “changed dramatically” since the events.

The pub lost its licence in 2016 after a number of violent incidents associated with local gangs prompted a complaint from West Midlands Police – forcing the hand of the local authority to take away the licence.

But, Dudley licensing chiefs have now granted the new licence, saying: “Whilst the committee understands the issues of historical concern and the very good reasons why the licence was revoked, it concludes that the committee has little doubt that the police and licensing authority will monitor the premises closely.

“The committee expects to see the owner show a strong lead in upholding the licensing objectives and will report any issues to the police well in advance of the stage that he cannot manage or control the premises.”

In order to distance itself from the previous issues, the owner decided to change the name of the pub to The Queens Cross. Representations made by the owner at the planning committee meeting argued that the officers cannot make their decisions based on what may or may not happen but only on the evidence in front of them.

The representative said: “The police should usually be the licensing authorities’ main source of advice on matters relating to the promotion of the crime and disorder licensing objective.

“West Midlands Police are satisfied that to grant the application that’s before you would not give rise to concerns around crime and disorder. If they were not satisfied, it’d be incumbent upon them to put in a representation.

“That is certainly not the case. Much of the concerns related to the former Earl of Dudley were issues that occurred in the early hours of the morning, past midnight.

“They related to matters that occurred at the car park, not necessarily within the confines of the private house itself. West Midlands Police are clearly very content and very happy with what was being proposed.”

Objections to the licence were raised by ward councillor Cathryn Bayton on behalf of local residents. She said that historic incidents related to the pub still remained “raw” for many residents.

Councillor Bayton added: “As a ward councillor, it is my responsibility to promote community safety, and to represent the concerns of residents.

For those residents who were living there in and around the period up to 2016 the incidents that were going on at that club, that is still very raw for them, and they still have very many concerns about that.

“My view is that even with the additional licence requirements put in place by the police, which I have looked at, I am still concerned that with the history of the pub in this particular area, it will be very difficult for the owner to be able to demonstrate an ability to run a lawful and safe licensing venue.

“This pub was frequented by gang criminals at the time. That will hold history, given the fact that the licensee will be the same person, and I am particularly concerned that we will have a return to those behaviours and the people who were frequenting it before.”

The committee has now granted the licence for a limited period of one year. Those objecting have a period of 21 days to appeal against the decision.