A Nepalese community centre will be able to serve alcohol at events, despite concerns from nearby residents.

Brent Council granted permission to Tamu Samaj UK to supply alcohol at its site in Harrow Road, Barham Park, Wembley.

The group, a charity that serves the Nepalese community in north-west London, explained that it wanted a licence to cater for members’ events.

It will also continue to hire out the premises for third-party functions – where the licence will still apply.

But there were concerns from some Barham Park residents that the licence, which runs from 12pm to 11pm each day, would impact on the surrounding area.

Gaynor Lloyd said the biggest issues could arise from outside hire events.

“It’s totally inappropriate for the area – if there is a licensed premises on the park it will change it irreparably,” she said.

“There are historic buildings, we’ve just got CIL (community infrastructure levy) money for the Queen Elizabeth gardens and this is not a building that is built for drinking for up to eight hours a day.”

She added that it would impact on library events, including a dementia café and a prayer group on Fridays.

She also pointed out that it has the potential to worsen any anti-social issues associated with the park.

“We’ve had some trouble before with teenagers drinking, taking drugs and throwing traffic cones – what is going to happen when people spill out of these events?” she said.

Tamu Samaj put forward the application on the basis that it would enhance its service to the Nepalese community and would enable it to host family and cultural functions.

Hiring out the venue would also enable it to generate income, since it relies on donations to operate.

Cllr Saqib Butt, a Sudbury councillor who spoke on behalf of Tamu Samaj, said: “To date, there have been no complaints against this organisation.

“They work as a charity – this is not a profit-making business – and they will continue to live in peace and harmony with the community.

“And they will comply with all the recommendations [attached to the licence].”

He added that, if there are any issues arising from this decision, he would “be the first to object”.

The licence was granted on the condition that a ‘Challenge 25’ policy, where staff are required to ask for ID if they believe customers to be under 25, be implemented when supplying alcohol.

No alcohol is to be taken outside the building and a licence holder must always be on the premises while a function is taking place.

It must also insist that people leave quietly, with a notice displayed to encourage this.