Pub's extended hours plan sparks noise fears

Plans to keep a village pub open until until the early hours of the morning at weekends have sparked concerns by local residents about possible noise nuisance.

An application from Star Pubs and Bars Ltd aims to extend operating hours at the Green Dragon pub in Thurgoland, near Barnsley, until 02:00 on Fridays and Saturdays.

If approved by Barnsley Metropolitan Borough Council, the changes would allow live music to continue indoors until 23:30 on weekdays and until 01:30 on weekends, while alcohol could be served from 08:00.

But a report to the council’s licensing board said there were fears from people living nearby over “noise and anti-social behaviour they believe will occur with the later opening times".

The report added: “A noise management plan has been submitted by the applicant’s solicitor, but no agreement has been reached with regards to it being conditioned to the licence at the time of writing this report.”

One resident, who said they lived close to the pub on Cote Lane, also told the council’s licensing department that the extended opening hours could lead to an increase in crime and disorder, along with a lack of police presence in the village.

Another contributor added that noise from the pub was already “intolerable”, resulting in their parents not being able to enjoy their garden.

The application also included proposed new safety measures for the pub, including a CCTV system, enhanced staff training and a Challenge 25 scheme, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service.

Although discussions had taken place between licensing officials, the applicant and objectors, no consensus on a noise management plan had been reached, the report stated.

Barnsley Council's statutory licensing board was expected to meet on 22 October to hear from the applicant and objectors and to make a decision on any licence variations.

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