Carlisle licensee wins battle with residents

A Carlisle pub landlord has won his extended opening hours after police supported the pub against complaints from local residents.

Ron Wood, licensee of the Bay in Denton Holme, Carlisle, had asked for one extra hour opening every night but some local residents complained accusing the pub for being responsible for an increase in disorder and noise.

The local residents claimed that stones and dried mud have been thrown at windows and vandalism has occurred because of drunk customers. The issue was raised at a licensing hearing but he was granted his hours after Police claimed local vandalism was not down to the pub.

The owner of the pub, Ron Wood claims the pub has actually helped reduce crime in the area. When he took the site on it was derelict and he says he helped clean up and regenerate the rundown area.

Mr Wood said: "It was just some local residents with bees in their bonnets. These residents keep complaining and we knew it was not us.

"At the licensing hearing they tried to attribute everything to the pub from vandalism to noise. The police spoke on our behalf and said it was a well-run local establishment. It's been a lot of hassle."

Licensing manager of Carlisle City Council Jim Messenger said: "It's a fairly new premises. A person came along representing the residents complaining about noise and vandalism.

"The police spoke and gave evidence but did not object. It's a balancing act and one of the conditions is that there is no entertainment outside after 8pm. The objectors seemed quite please with that but we will have to see if they appeal."

The pub is also required to keep doors and windows closed to keep the noise levels down.

PC Dawn Graham of Cumbria Constabulary said that the people responsible were not drinkers in the pub's bar but under-16-year-olds who take their own drinks down by the river.