Plough Lane development residents have asked the council to reject an extension of licensing hours at the AFC Wimbledon Stadium.

They complain that living in flats built as part of the football stadium development is already marred by noise and anti-social behaviour. Longer drinking hours would make things worse, they say.

AFC Wimbledon wants permission to start serving alcohol seven days a week and up to 1.00am in certain zones. The club is also seeking to open areas including the Main Stadium at 9am (from a stated 10am currently) with alcohol on sale from then onwards until 11pm. According to council documentation, ‘there is currently no authorisation for the sale of alcohol on Saturday’, which may come as a surprise to stadium users.

Details of the licensing amendment request:

Detail from stadium licensing application report

Some 600 apartments were constructed as part of the Plough Lane development, helping fund the AFC Wimbledon stadium project. A number of residents have logged objections to the proposed change in licensing rules, saying, “Striking a balance between the stadium’s interests and the peace of the surrounding community is paramount.”

They express ‘serious concerns’ about a licence extension, citing issues including:

  • noise: “It’s unnecessary that a football stadium, which is an inclusive family venue, be serving alcohol past midnight, which encourages guests to become even more intoxicated and noisy than they already are.”
  • anti-social behaviour: “many incidents of littering and public urination”
  • security: “already an issue with the activity on the grounds as members of the public have frequently accessed the communal areas of our property, acting with drunk and disorderly conduct”

The licensing extension application hearing takes place on August 8.