PARENTS at a Richmond school have challenged plans to obtain an alcohol licence that will cover the entire school site – saying it is the wrong environment to encourage drinking.

Lorraine Hodgson, a mother of students at Richmond School and member of Richmond Town Council, told the council on Monday that she felt it was inappropriate for the school to keep alcohol in its sports pavilion.

The council invited Tony Potter, leader of sport, leisure and community at Richmond School, who said since the school had a new pavilion built it had to apply for more and more temporary licences for functions and events.

The school was only allowed 12 temporary licences a year – and Mr Potter said they have already been used up.

He said: “We went to Richmondshire District Council’s licensing officers to ask their advice and they said it would be more efficient to licence the whole school to give us the flexibility.

“We are a school first and foremost and would never be selling alcohol in school time – but because the school has become popular for social events and prize giving nights.”

Cllr Hodgson said she had heard from scores of concerned parents who feared for increased risk of break-ins and anti social behaviour.

Mr Potter said the pavilion was fully alarmed with CCTV in both directions of the entrance, and that alcohol would be locked away inside a fridge within a store room.

Councillors voted against motions requesting the town council lobby the district council over the application.

To comment on the application visit richmondshire.gov.uk, view public access for licensing, and search Richmond School.