Liberty defends action on pubwatch ban

Pressure group Liberty has defended its decision to back the case of a man who is trying to fight his pubwatch ban because he claimed it breached his human rights.

Liberty said Ruddington Pubwatch "abused" its power by handing out the ban, claiming it was in response to his complaints about noise from one venue, the Country Cottage Hotel.

But Country Cottage licensee and Ruddington Pubwatch chairman Andrew Stuart said the man, who did not want to be named, was banned for allegedly being abusive to pub staff.

Liberty's legal officer Anna Fairclough said: "Liberty agrees with the aims of Pubwatch but this particular case shows that the scheme can be abused.​

"Our client does not drink at the pub which has sought the ban, but rather owns a home near the Country Cottage Hotel.

"For two years the pub owner has ignored his complaint that the pub regularly allows excessive noise late into the night.

"This case demonstrates the dangers of an unaccountable scheme which allows people arbitrarily to be banned from all the pubs in their area simply because they complain about excessive noise. His ban should be lifted."

Fairclough also said "the council agrees that the noise level from the Country Cottage Hotel exceeds its licence"​.

However, a Rushcliffe Borough Council spokesman said the council is merely investigating complaints from residents about noise coming from the venue and others in the area.

The MA was unable to contact Stuart but he told the Nottingham Evening Post that he has written to Liberty but has yet to receive a response.

He told the newspaper he did not want to discuss the details of the case but the ban was a result of "what [the man] said".