Roseland Cabaret causing 'disturbing problems' in New Glasgow, says mayor
The mayor and town council of New Glasgow are asking the Nova Scotia Utility and Review Board to cut back the hours of a cabaret in the town, citing problems caused by its late hours.
The Roseland Cabaret on Provost Street is in New Glasgow's downtown core. Its licence allows it to remain open until 4 a.m. The owner has applied to the UARB for a transfer of the cabaret licence, which allows people to comment during the application process.
"The disturbing problems that have repeatedly occurred in our town directly related to the late night operations of this bar continue to escalate and cause great harm to our residents, as well as destruction to private and public properties," Mayor Barrie MacMillan said in a letter to the manager of licensing, alcohol and gaming.
The mayor and council oppose the licence transfer and want the cabaret licence reassessed. They say it is only open during specific times of the year, when college and university students return home for holidays such as Christmas, Easter and Thanksgiving. They argue this encourages binge drinking.
The letter cites the case of Scott Jones, who was paralyzed by an early morning attack outside the bar in 2013. It also mentions another violent incident last fall that left the victim in critical condition.
The town says it's not opposed to drinking but is concerned about "the way we drink and how much."
Dr. Aaron Smith, who practices in New Glasgow, has also written a letter of concern.
"While working at the hospital and in the emergency department, I regularly see and treat young people coming from the Roseland Cabaret for excessive alcohol ingestion."
He says the community is being harmed and he's asking the cabaret be closed at 1:30 a.m.
The owner of the cabaret, Spyro Kouyas, told CBC news he "won't comment" until he gets legal counsel.
There is no word on when the UARB will review the application.
