OFF THE WIRE
The Rebels clubrooms in Letitia St, North Hobart.
THE Rebels Motorcycle Club wants the city council to extend opening hours at its North Hobart clubrooms -- and the neighbours are not happy.
A development application lodged with the Hobart City Council asks for the liquor licensed opening hours to be increased from 10pm to 1am for Tuesday to Saturday.
The clubrooms are described in the application as a "community centre, artists' workshop, social clubrooms".
"Community centres don't usually have stripper poles," said a Letitia St resident, who did not want to be named.
Residents' concerns increased after an anonymous letterbox drop informed locals of the proposed application's contents and encouraged them to make their concerns known to the council.
But according to those who contacted the Mercury, the problem is, to protest a development application residents must give their name and no one is all that keen to do so.
But a Rebels spokesman said there was no cause for concern.
"There have been no problems in the past and there will be no problems in the future.
"The clubrooms exist so people can get together for a drink and a chat and we are following the correct process in making this application."
Opposition police spokeswoman Elise Archer has written to the council on behalf of concerned residents alleging the clubrooms are already operating outside of their licensed hours.
"At the moment there is a licence until 10pm, although I am advised the premises rarely close up before 1am," Ms Archer wrote. She said if the licence was extended to 1am the fear was the premises would stay open until 4am.
Residents who spoke to the Mercury did, however, agree that Letitia St was "probably the safest street in Hobart" thanks to the Rebels' presence.
The public consultation period closes tomorrow.
http://www.themercury.com.au/article/2012/08/09/352141_most-popular-stories.html
