High-ranking Christians oppose extra hours

Two high ranking Christians have mounted objections to late licence bids but only one succeeded.

Mitchells & Butlers withdrew an application to extend hours at an O'Neills in south London after former Beirut hostage Terry Waite wrote a letter of objection. But the Archbishop of Canterbury has been told his objection to late opening at an Oxford pub holds no sway because he is not a resident.

Archbishop Rowan Williams wrote a letter to Oxford City Council against an application to sell alcohol from 8am until 2.30am, and stage live music every night until midnight, at the Golden Ball in Littlemore.

The Archbishop opposes later opening because it would disturb people at the John Henry Newman College, located opposite the pub, which includes a chapel and sleeping quarters.

But the council is not taking Williams' views on board because he does not live in the vicinity of the pub.

Interestingly, the council said almost one-third 13 out of 34 of representations against the pub's plans were ruled invalid, mainly because they came from people who did not live near the pub.

'People don't seem to be aware of how it works, said a council spokeswoman. 'They think they can complain about opening hours even though they don't live in the area.

The council has invited the Archbishop to the hearing on the pub's opening hours on 25 August, but he has yet to respond.

M&B had wanted to open until midnight from Sunday to Wednesday, until 1am on Thursdays and 2am on Fridays and Saturdays at O'Neills in Blackheath Village.