A licensing application for a Navratri celebration at Alperton Studios, 416 Ealing Road, Wembley, has faced objections from Brent Council's planning and nuisance control departments, raising concerns about noise and potential breaches of a prior planning enforcement notice.
The Alcohol and Entertainment Licensing Sub-Committee is scheduled to convene on Monday 14 July 2025, to consider the application by Jaz Walia for a time-limited premises licence between 22 September 2025 and 1 October 2025. The application seeks permission for regulated entertainment and late-night refreshment between 6pm and 11pm Monday to Thursday, and 6pm to midnight Friday to Sunday.
The proposed event, known as Alperton Navratri, is described in the application form as a community-based celebration of the Hindu festival Navratri, featuring live performers, singers, and dancing. The event management plan anticipates 1,500 attendees each night, with a ticketed entry system and security measures including bag searches and prohibited items.
However, the application has met with resistance from within Brent Council. Tim Rolt, Planning Enforcement Manager, has lodged an objection, citing a prior planning enforcement notice issued due to noise and disturbance from a similar event last year. Rolt argues that the building is unsuitable for such events due to a lack of soundproofing, causing noise to echo and inconvenience nearby residents. He stated that granting the license would facilitate the criminal act of breach a planning enforcement notice,
which he described as a serious crime that is triable either way in the courts
because it would cause undue noise, disturbance, and loss of amenity to neighbouring residents.
Diane Lewis, Nuisance Control Officer, also objected, stating that approving the licence would be detrimental to licensing objectives regarding the prevention of public nuisance. Lewis highlighted the proximity of residential properties and the warehouse-type structure of the premises, which offers little sound attenuation. She noted previous complaints from residents about loud amplified music and parking issues during past events.
According to the Nuisance Control Team, residents have previously complained about noise from loud amplified music at events held at the premises, as well as parking issues in local streets due to the limited capacity of the venue's car park.
A local resident echoed these concerns, stating that the noise from last year's event was loud and constant,
disrupting their sleep and preventing them from attending work.
Jaz Walia, the applicant, responded to the objections through Sima Naran, Licensing Support Officer, stating that the previous year's event suffered from improperly placed sound systems and a lack of sound monitoring. Walia stated that for the proposed event, measures would be in place to ensure that the local residents are not affected. He also noted that the proposed license would only extend to 11pm on weeknights and midnight on weekends, whereas the previous license extended to 3am.
To mitigate noise pollution, the Event Management Plan outlines several measures. The Event Organiser will constantly monitor noise levels using a decibel monitoring system to ensure they are at an environmentally friendly level. The music noise level should not exceed the background noise level by more than 15dB(A) over a 15-minute period at 1 metre from the façade of any noise sensitive premises. All amplified noise will take place within the Main Building only, and staff will be provided with sponge ear plugs. Any noise complaints will be directed to the event Operations Manager.
If the license is granted, a dedicated audio-visual team will manage and monitor sound levels. Noise monitoring checks will be undertaken by a staff member between 21:00 and the closure of the premises, including checks around the perimeter and along Burns Road, recorded in a noise monitoring log. SIA Security & stewards shall be positioned outside the venue to manage attendees exiting in a quite manner and to ask any attendees to leave the immediate vicinity if they are loitering outside the venue. The premises will also install and maintain a digital color CCTV system, and a member of staff conversant with the system's operation will be available while the premises are open. The proposed license conditions also stipulate a minimum of 10 SIA-licensed staff on-site each day, bag searches, and a maximum attendee limit of 1500.
Initially, PC Phil Graves, Brent Licensing Officer for the Metropolitan Police Service, also raised concerns. However, these were withdrawn after agreeing to conditions with Jaz Walia. These conditions include:
- Full operation of the venue's CCTV system
- Issuance of wristbands to pre-paying guests
- Prohibition of alcohol sales or supply
- Deployment of ten SIA staff
- Prevention of queuing outside the venue
- Mandatory bag searches
- Adult supervision for attendees under 16
- No re-entry after 22:30
- Prohibition of glass inside the venue
Edwin Maldoom, Licensing Enforcement Officer, stated that the Licensing Authority has no objections, given the agreement regarding licence conditions.
The reports pack also contains a list of proposed licence conditions, including a maximum attendance of 1,500, a minimum of 10 SIA-licensed staff, a digital colour CCTV system, a designated medical area, and a Sound Management Plan. A map of the area has also been provided.
The Alcohol and Entertainment Licensing Sub-Committee, chaired by Councillor Parvez Ahmed, with Councillors Janice Long and Narinder Singh Bajwa also in attendance, will consider the application and the representations made before making a decision.