A LEADING Hampstead private school s application for a controversial booze licence was turned down on Wednesday night by Camden Council. UCS on Frognal had applied for a seven-days-a-week alcohol licence but 32 people objected, including two ward councillor

A LEADING Hampstead private school's application for a controversial booze licence was turned down on Wednesday night by Camden Council.

UCS on Frognal had applied for a seven-days-a-week booze licence but 32 people objected, including two ward councillors and three resident associations, because they said it would cause noise and disturbance for residents and encourage crime and disorder in a residential area.

They have welcomed the council's decision to refuse the licence to sell alcohol from 11am to 11.30pm Monday to Saturday and until 11pm on Sunday and to host activities including plays, films, indoor sporting events, live and recorded music, dance and making music.

Frognal and Fitzjohn's councillor Andrew Mennear said: "The key issue for residents is that they do not want to have an open ended licensing permit which allows the institution to be able to hold events anytime.

"They would prefer it if an application was made on an individual basis because it may be that a particular evening doesn't suit and neighbourhood."

Frognal Way resident Douglas Maxwell added: "Around 20 people showed up at the meeting which was a spontaneous expression of concern and shows the strength of feeling about this.

"The panel was concerned about the potential effect of the application on this residential neighbourhood.

"The licence would be used for commercial hirings and not just school and community events and this scale of activity which would impact on the residents. It could have possibly been run as a proper venue which is not acceptable.