AN application to serve alcohol from Winchester’s former pumping station has received a flood of objections from nearby residents.

General Store co-founders Alex Donnan and Laura Turner have applied for a premises licence for The Pump House on Garnier Road, st Cross, which, if approved, would see them able to serve alcohol for consumption both on and off the repurposed premises from 12 noon to 6pm on Mondays and Tuesdays, 12 noon to 8pm on Wednesdays and Thursdays, 10am to 10pm on Fridays and Saturdays and 10am to 6pm on Sundays.

Some amendments to the requested licensable hours were agreed between Hampshire Constabulary and the applicants during the consultation period.

The application, which will be discussed by the Licensing Sub-Committee on Wednesday, May 11, has been met with 27 objections by people expressing concerns about public safety and noise.

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The premises is described in the application as "an independent upmarket co-working, wellbeing café that will be appealing to the locals of Winchester", and states the building is only to be used by members Monday to Friday and open to the public on weekends.

A previous application which was lodged by the pair last year sparked similar backlash and was subsequently withdrawn, with Mr Donnan later explaining that he had “really listen to the concerns of the community”.

He’d formerly insisted any further application for an alcohol licence would only be for members of the workspace, to be able to hold parties for them.

Speaking to the Chronicle in November, he said they had moved away from the idea of a General Store model, instead focusing on a co-working space for “like-minded” people who are home workers and wanted to “branch out”.

Plans for the premises also incorporated an aerobic space, cinema room, and a studio where crafts and yoga could take place.

The meeting will take place at 10am, with the application the sole item on the agenda.

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