|
|
 |
| |
| Anger as pub gets extra drinking
hour |
Protesters hand in petition at town
hall over late hours
Petition: Protesters stand on the steps of the town hall |
THE residents in an Islington conservation area could be forgiven
for wishing that the Nobody Inn lived up to its name.
They are only too aware of its customers during quiz nights, for
example, when questions can be heard booming out across Mildmay
Park.
When the doors and windows of the pub are left open on warm nights
locals say they can even hear the balls on the pool table knock
into each other.
More seriously, there are claims that residents have been physically
attacked by drunken customers from the pub, and one man complained
he was racially abused by drinkers from the establishment.
But despite a catalogue of complaints – including customers
illegally drinking at tables outside on the pavement – Islington’s
licensing committee on Wednesday granted the premises an extra hour’s
drinking up time under the new liberalisation laws.
There were three important conditions to go with the licence, however.
The pub would have to introduce a sophisticated sound insulation
system which would be approved by the council; there would be no
more drinking at tables outside; and the licensee and residents
would talk to each other.
Nearly a dozen residents turned up at the hearing to object to the
application, which will mean the pub will stay open until 1.15am
week days and 1.45am weekends.
A petition was presented with more than 40 names accusing the pub
of showing “little concern for its neighbours, through seeking
to increase profits at the expense of the community”.
But there were no objections from the police or the council’s
noise control department.
Nicky Southin, chairwoman of the Newington Green Action Group, speaking
on behalf of the protesters, said that drunken and loutish behaviour,
loud music, cars and other noise is bad enough up to 11.30pm.
“But any later it will be intolerable. This is a residential
area and people, particularly children, need their sleep.
“There are various times when the night is shattered by music
or shouting, but now noise will go on even later.”
Another resident, Andrea Leigh, said that when her partner was investigating
a disturbance he was assaulted by a drunken individual leaving the
pub.
She said: “Our lives are constantly imposed upon and made a
misery by the noise and activities generated by the pub.”
Area official David Gay, representing the Priory Pub Company, said
the Nobody Inn is a popular and well managed local pub.
He said: “We were frankly horrified when we read some of these
objections because they don’t appear to apply to the pub that
we know. The police have not needed to visit since we re-opened
and we have always made sure that our customers are well behaved.
If there are local troublemakers it is possible that they have been
drinking elsewhere. That said I’m happy to talk to the local
residents and try and address their concerns.” |
|
|
