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Noise at the Nag’s Head – Henley pub’s licence appeal could end in courts




MOVES to vary the licensing conditions imposed on the Nag’s Head pub in Henley High Street have been left in limbo because the meeting being held to discuss the proposals had to be adjourned.

The meeting of Stratford District Council’s licensing panel on 6th September was due to hear an application by the pub to change the restrictions on musical events at the venue imposed by the panel last March.

Following complaints from people living nearby, the panel had previously decided that no live or recorded music could take place outdoors at any time except for up to three days per calendar year, when it was permitted to take place outdoors until 10pm.

Stratford District Council.
Stratford District Council.

Apart from asking the district council’s licensing panel to vary the conditions, the pub’s management has also appealed for the restrictions to be overturned by a court and a hearing is due to take place before magistrates in Coventry in the coming months.

At the time of the decision in March, the panel said it was concerned by the extent of the noise from events in the rear garden and “the lack of consideration shown to neighbours and the distress that has been caused to them due to unacceptable noise.”

The panel was also concerned that the management of the premises had not heeded the warnings of environmental protection and licensing officers.

“However, the panel recognise that a balance needs to be struck and the premises licence holder accepts that a new package of conditions is required in order to promote the licensing objectives,” it said. The panel noted that the environmental protection officer was not seeking to revoke the premises licence, but to impose adequate controls to protect the residential neighbours.”

Noting that the licence holder preferred five events – or 15 days – and said that this was far in excess of what environmental protection would allow. It therefore considered that three event days per calendar year was a reasonable compromise.

However, when the licensing panel met on 6th September to consider a bid to vary these conditions, there was an immediate hiccup.

According to Stratford District Council, the pub management’s barrister brought up some legal matters that required advice and research from the council’s legal team.

A council spokesperson told the Herald that if the panel and the legal team had received prior notice of the matters raised it was likely the meeting could have continued.

“As the matters had only been raised upon the opening of the meeting, by the applicant’s barrister, the councillors had to adjourn that item on the agenda and proceed to hear the other item, as there were two items scheduled for that day,” said the spokesperson.

A date has not yet been fixed for the adjourned meeting to be reconvened.



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