Subject to approval by full council, Bridgend Council is set to maintain a Cumulative Impact Assessment (CIA) policy for Bridgend town centre following a statutory three-year review (pdf).
The CIA determines how the concentration of licenced premises affects the levels of crime and anti-social behaviour in a given area. It also warns businesses seeking a new licence in the CIA area that the council will be minded not to award one unless they can prove that they can address any potential issues.
The CIA for Bridgend town centre covers Market Street, Wyndham Street, Derwen Road and the stretch of Nolton Street between the Ewenny Road junction and Brackla Street/Merthyr Mawr Road.
Evidence submitted by South Wales Police (pdf) stated that crime incidents in the CIA area between 22:00 – 05:59 increased by 34.7% during 2019. This dropped sharply during 2020-2022 (for obvious reasons).
During the consultation on the review – which reportedly only attracted seven responses – two respondents were in favour of the CIA being lifted due to the loss of licenced premises in the town centre.
However, those in favour of keeping the CIA cited ongoing anti-social behaviour, littering, drinking in the street, violence and people going to the toilet in the street.
