Churches, businesses concerned about application for relocation of tavern liquor registration

An application to the Free State Liquor Board for the relocation of the tavern liquor registration for the Big Daddy Tavern, concerns businessmen from Parys, and the community deeply.

Their concern, should the application be approved, is about the impact of such a shift on tourism and business in this part of town, but especially on churches and schools in the immediate area,. Until now, the tavern has been operating opposite the taxi rank at 32 Kruis Street (Father Balink Street).

The application is for the relocation of the liquor registration to 29 Kruis Street (Father Balink Street), which was previously partly used as a medical center and offices.This building is in the tourism promenade and development corridor of Parys, adjacent to the town’s main street which is the tourist heartbeat of the town. On top of that, it is right across from the town’s Baptist Church and just a few meters away from seven other churches.

In the Free State Gambling and Liquor Act of 2010, the Liquor Board pertinently points out that liquor registrations may not be conducted within 500m of a place of worship or educational institution.

The notice of application for the transfer of the liquor registration was published in the provincial gazette on 4 March. In this, however, no mention is made of the churches or educational institutions within the 500m distance pointed out in the law. The public now has until March 28, to lodge objections with regard to the published application.

Several affidavits of business people as well as the churches affected, and the Joyous Kids day care center in Dwars Street which is 200m from the premises, along with more than 1,400 signatures on an online petition, driven and sponsored by businesses in the town, were handed to the police early this week. The police must also submit a report on the application of Wintics CC, which must be taken into account by the Liquor Board.

The affidavits of pastors and their representatives, business people, schools and all other affected parties are also included in a report that will be submitted by a local law firm to the Liquor Board, as well as to the local Liquor Board inspectors.  

One of the main objections of the public with whom Gazette spoke was the lack of public participation before the submission of the application, and that it was not advertised locally, apart from the impact it would have on business activities in the area, and the fear that it would contribute to an increase in social issues such as poverty and alcohol and drug abuse in this part of  town.

The fears do not appear to be unfounded with the building owner where the tavern used to be, which indicated that the lease for the tavern would not be renewed because the tavern was degrading to the environment in which it was operated, and  created a health risk. This is confirmed by other business people in Father Balink Street who say that the tavern had a negative impact on their businesses, contributed to littering, social issues, security issues and the disturbance of loud music.  

According to Gustav Dey, a businessman from Parys, the floodlights in front of the building of Werner Dey Couture, which is diagonally opposite the premises that are now being applied for, have already been stolen three times in the past three weeks. They also give bread on a daily basis to people who come here for help. He and other businessmen, fear that crime and poverty will now only move to this part of town, close to the main street, which is especially a tourist activity on weekends.

In addition, there are concerns about crowding and the impact the tavern will have on traffic flow in Church and Father Balink streets.

Although there are other businesses with similar liquor registrations in the town’s main street, business people believe that these businesses are not a problem, because they are restaurants whose customer base is families, and / or liquor is not consumed on the premises.

In addition to the Baptist Church which is 30m from the premises applied for, the NG Moedergemeente is 50m away, the PPK 280m, Methodist Church 290m, Anglican Church 370m, Members in Christ Church 450m, Muslim Mosque 420m, AGS Zion 500m, Alitheia Church 720m, Reformed Church 850m, APK 900m, NG Oos 910m and the Reformed Church 990m.

People still have time to submit their affidavits to Kriek & Van Wyk & Scheepers attorneys, or to sign the online petition at https://www.parys.co.za/online