Make Some Noise: publican who spent £12k to limit noise faces second licence review
Nicola Barcroft, of the Station Hotel in Helmshore, Lancashire, agreed to fit double glazed windows and doors, blinds and a noise limiter in the pub after escaping a revocation of her licence in January following complaints from neighbours.
However, following one more complaint and a visit from environmental health inspectors, the pub is set to be taken to a second review today.
The pub hosts karaoke on Fridays and live music on Saturdays, both of which run from 9:30pm until midnight
The Thwaites tenant said the installations and legal fees have so far cost her more than £10,000. She said she also paid £2,000 for an independent sound consultant to establish a maximum decibel of noise.
The noise limiter cuts out sound above a certain decibel, which can be set, but she said the council has no guideline figure in place.
'Music’s been at this pub forever'
“[That means] it’s all subjective. If a door slams or a chair scrapes across the floor sound can cut out,” she said.
“We had to lose original windows that had been in the pub for 170 years. Our argument at the first hearing was that these houses were only built 11 years ago. As far as I know, music’s been at this pub forever.”
A spokeswoman from Rossendale Borough Council said: "The landlady had been given numerous opportunities to address the issues of noise nuisance from amplified music before the Council served a noise abatement notice. Even then the landlady continued to breach the requirements of the notice.
“Until the landlady can demonstrate that she can adequately prevent a statutory nuisance during amplified music we will continue to take the most appropriate enforcement action.”
Join our campaign to change the law
If you have a story to tell email ellie.bothwell@wrbm.com or call her on 01293 610305.
To join in the debate tweet us with the hashtag #pubsnoise or post a message on our facebook page.
