Club allowed outside bar despite noise concerns from neighbours

Music at a recent event at the Kinver Constitutional Club was so loud it could be heard by a bereaved neighbour inside a neighbouring home while they were planning a funeral, a resident said. He added that the neighbour had not been told the event was taking place.

On another occasion a neighbour was reduced to tears after being verbally abused while she attempted to clean vomit from her own doorstep, South Staffordshire Council’s licensing sub-committee heard on Friday.

But a member of the Kinver Constitutional Club committee said the person who was sick had suffered an allergic reaction to something she had eaten – and advance notices of events were displayed online.

A complaint about the new outdoor bar facility was made in June to South Staffordshire Council, Friday’s meeting heard.

The following month an application to vary the premises licence was submitted to the authority, seeking permission to allow alcohol to be served from the outside bar Monday to Sunday 12pm to 11pm.

There was also a request to remove the licensable activities element of the licence, which covers the playing of live and recorded music until 2am. A recent change in law means that these activities no longer require a licence, provided they take place between 8am and 11pm for no more than 500 people.

Trevor Welch, who lives near the High Street club, said that the noise issues started three years ago, following the siting of a beer garden at the back of neighbouring homes.

He said: “There is a stage at one end for outdoor performances and each of these changes has encouraged people to congregate outside and has caused noise and disturbance to our properties.

Misery

“In summer 2018 we were entertaining guests in our garden and the noise from the stage was so loud our garden became unbearable. There was nowhere in the house we could escape and the guests went home.

“There have been three other events this year and I think there would have been more if the licensing officer hadn’t become involved. If this variation is allowed what will stop our lives being made a misery and the council being inundated with complaints about noise or antisocial behaviour?”

But Chris Randle, treasurer of the Kinver Constitutional Club committee, said: “All events inside and outside the club have committee members in attendance to help with any issues raised. It is a private members’ club that has a large proportion of members from the village – it’s very much community orientated and supports local charities.

“Entertainment advertisements are all placed on our website and at the front and rear of the club, with dates and times. We also have three-monthly forums at the club for all members to attend with any issues they feel they may have.

The properties which back onto the club are all screened by fencing. There is a raised deck area around 2ft off the ground, not a stage, and it is predominantly used as a seating area. When we have events it is used for the entertainments because it is the best location for our members to view and listen to the acts.”

The licensing sub-committee granted permission for both the outside bar and change to the licence in relation to licensable activities.

Councillor Mike Lawrence, who chaired the hearing, told the applicants: “We cannot say no to this application in relation to the change of hours because the amendments in the act of 2015 allow these activities to take place.

“What I would like you to go away and consider is to employ a noise expert – somebody who knows about how to mitigate noise from outside activities – and if possible to build noise mitigating walls to reduce the impact of sound. I also want you to communicate fully with your neighbours and every time there is an event to let them know what the event is and when it is taking place.

“Although we can’t stop people drinking in a beer garden and enjoying themselves you have got to tell your clientele to understand there are people living close by who have issues with sound and noise. We would like signs put up in this area advising the clientele to consider their neighbours.”