Council silenced

by battling host by Tony Halstead A North Shields licensee has won a spectacular victory over his local authority, which tried to impose unreasonable noise conditions on his public entertainment licence. But host Richard Slade, who owns the town's Magnesia Bank pub, says the case provides worrying evidence of the sort of "political meddling" facing the trade when councils take over licensing responsibilities. Slade blames a single councillor "on the election trail" for persuading local residents to complain about noise levels at the pub. Improvements costing more than £30,000 were carried out at the pub to comply with council requirements in order for the Magnesia Bank to vary its PEL to extend entertainment hours. Further costs were incurred when extra conditions were placed on the PEL when it came up for renewal. But when Slade re-applied for the licence, the local council insisted a noise-limiting device was fitted in the pub. Although the last remaining objector had already dropped his complaint, council officials carried out clandestine tests to show noise levels were still unacceptable. Slade decided to appeal against the noise limit condition and, after a full hearing before local magistrates, won his case. The council's actions were described by magistrates as "very remiss" and awarded full legal costs and damages to Slade. BII north east regional chairman Slade believes, however, the two-year saga should act as a warning about the type of interference facing the trade when town halls take over licensing. "I believe this episode was blatantly political and is the reason why many licensees have misgivings about licensing responsibility being shifted to local authority control," Slade said.