Having met with residents and the communities around Stonebow, Rachael Maskell MP cannot understand how the City of York Council Licensing Department can allow a licence to be granted to Roxy Leisure Ltd for its proposed drinking and gaming venue on Stonebow.
Stonebow is now largely a residential area but Roxy is applying for an licence to sell alcohol from 10am in the morning until the small hours, encouraging hen/stag and party groups and fuelling a drinking and gaming culture.
Reports from staff working at Roxy Leisure’s other venues have described how they are poorly paid and on poor terms and conditions, so this will not feed into creating good jobs in the city. Others have described their employer as providing poor training and requiring them to clear up vomit from customers.
York has had enough of businesses coming to exploit our city for their profit, not least when it will significantly impact on residents, including the many elderly, frail and vulnerable residents who live or use the charitable organisations in the adjacent streets.
There is no evidence of risk assessments of the impact this drinking venue will have on the ‘Dig’ a child and school-group focused attraction in York next to the venue, nor on Carecent which supports York’s homeless and Kyra, the amazing York-based charity for women in the city. The business has not contacted residents to listen to their concerns ahead of making a licensing application. The front door of the venue will open onto the busy bus interchange on Stonebow.
“York must stop granting licences to the owners of venues that are not in the interests of residents and the city, but instead build a family-friendly city that everyone can enjoy. Now that we have a new administration, I am hopeful that the values of the Labour Council for good jobs, putting residents first and taking a public health approach to all policies will kick this application into the long grass.
“Many very vulnerable residents live in this area, and will be directly impacted by the venue. They have shared their fears with me, and even the thought of this venue arriving is causing much stress in the community. This area of York is increasingly becoming a residential and community area of York, with more housing planned at Hungate. It is disgraceful that Roxy Leisure Ltd has failed to engage with the community and has not conducted risk assessments for the impact that their venue will have on these communities.
“I am writing to Roxy Leisure Ltd to request a meeting. I want to put it to them that there has been no thought as to the impact that the venue will have on local residents, community groups or on bus users. This type of venue is simply not wanted in York, and I hope the Council send Roxy Leisure Ltd packing.”