A POPULAR Falmouth record shop could be able to sell alcohol and host live music if a new proposal is approved.

However, Cornwall Council has been asked to reject the premises licence application, meaning a council licensing sub-committee will meet on Wednesday (June 3) to decide if Jam Records will be able to sell a renowned brewery’s beers.

Applicant Green Spaces (Cornwall) Ltd is registered at Unit 30, Parkengue, Kernick Industrial Estate in Penryn - the same address as Verdant Brewing Company. The companies share directors. Verdant operates a brewery taproom at its Penryn base, as well as the Verdant Seafood Bar on Falmouth’s Quay Street and the Seaview Pub on Wodehouse Terrace.

If approved, the record shop at 32 High Street would sell alcohol – for consumption on and off the premises – from noon to 11pm daily. However, the application states timings are “most likely to be within the noon to 10pm bracket”, with the option to continue beyond those times if “worthwhile”. The applicant states the predominant use of the venue would be as a record shop, with the supply of alcohol being an “added extra”.

The application also includes a request for live music, most likely within the 3pm to 10pm bracket and “mostly acoustic in the basement to not affect public”.

Steps by the applicant to meet licensing objectives include being part of Falmouth’s Pubwatch scheme, working with Falmouth BID, having CCTV in place, maintaining sensible capacity of the venue based on up-to-date fire risk assessments and noise management with logs kept of volume inside and out.

The licence application has the approval of Devon and Cornwall Police, Cornwall Fire & Rescue Service and Falmouth Town Council.

However, a representation against the proposal has been received. Dana Young wrote: “The lease for the residential flat above the shop at No 32 contains a covenant requiring that no noise nuisance or disturbance be caused to residents. This reflects the residential nature of the area and the expectation of quiet enjoyment by residents.

“Granting the proposed alcohol licence risks undermining those protections through increased customer noise, late-night activity, deliveries and disturbance, contrary to the licensing objective of preventing public nuisance.”

She added: “Jam Records has traditionally been open Tuesday to Saturday from 10.30am to 4.30 pm. The proposed opening days/hours represent a massive change. Jam has been a very good neighbour with music not being played often or loudly. However, when it is it can be heard clearly in the flat above.”

Ms Young asked that the council “reject this application completely as being unsuitable for the location and likely to cause nuisance to local residents”. Additionally, she requested that live music, DJs and sports events are not allowed and that licensing hours are restricted to normal shop opening hours: “no later than 5.30pm and only Monday to Saturday, as at present”.

The representation also requested additional sound proofing be added and that a structural report on the building be carried out due to “serious doubt as to how the ground floor joists would cope with a full crowd and with people dancing to a beat”.