Residents pull the plug on pub music

RESIDENTS who claimed their lives have been blighted by noise from a Verwood pub are celebrating after it lost its live music licence.

Complaints about the Albion Inn in Station Road were first made in August 2006 and the following April its licence was changed so only six events a year were allowed. But the volume of noise at these has still proved too much for neighbours and East Dorset District Council has decided all live musical entertainment has to stop.

Councillors on the licensing committee reviewed the licence in April 2007 following complaints from residents going back to August the year before.

Sean Whitney, the council's pollution control manager, said on one occasion residents had been disturbed by music coming from the pub's conservatory which had continued until 12.50am. He explained that the licensee had tried to control the noise but failed and concluded that the volume was a public nuisance. This led to his licence being changed so that live music was restricted to six events a year.

However, the problems have continued since then, resulting in the licensing committee withdrawing permission for live music.

Mr Whitney said the complaints were received in July 2007 when a resident had reported excessive noise from just before 2pm on a Sunday. On this occasion Councillor Toni Coombs had been to listen to the noise and said she found it totally unacceptable.

The problems continued throughout the month with one lady complaining that the noise had disturbed residents for four weekends in a row. The situation was exacerbated by smokers gathering outside and singing.

While there were fewer problems over the next year, the situation came to a head on 28th March this year when a council officer could hear late night music from Albion Way and parts of Jessica Avenue.

Mr Whitney said: "In spite of the previous decision at the review hearing, local residents continue to experience levels of noise which continue a public nuisance. I do not consider that restricting the number of events is an appropriate redress to the noise problem."

He explained that because music could not be played loud enough in the conservatory to be entertaining without disturbing nearby homes, live and recorded music should not be allowed.

Councillors heard from two residents supporting licensees Neil Parsons and Mary Meesham who felt the noise levels were not enough to cause a problem and were concerned about the future viability of the pub if music was not allowed.

But they agreed to change the licence. Live music is no longer allowed and the only recorded music that can be played is as background or from a juke box but this cannot be in the conservatory.

Liz Turner

lturner@bvmedia.co.uk