Council threatens licence review over noise
A frustrated licensee has blasted his local council for its "Dalek-like" attitude after a threat to review his licence over noise issues.
Paul Lamb, licensee at the Sun Inn, in Llangollen, Denbighshire, has been hit with a noise abatement notice for complaints over noise, including "shouting" and loud music.
Denbighshire County Council has written to Paul threatening him with a licence review if the situation does not improve.
But the licensee says he is doing all he can to prevent noise from smokers, 60 per cent of his customers, and bands.
"All we can do is ask smokers to keep the noise down, you can't force people. They will always to talk to each other after a few pints," said Paul.
"The last thing we want to do is alienate our neighbours."
The pub has bands on Fridays and Saturday nights, but Paul says the building has two-foot thick walls and secondary glazing to limit noise leaking out.
He has now written to the council saying how he will address the problem, including having a sound-insulating door and a traffic light system telling bands if they are too loud.
But Paul has yet to receive a response from the council. "They are adopting a Dalek-like attitude, there's no humanity involved," he said. "It will cost me thousands to implement these changes," he said.
He has also asked the council if there is any funds available to help with the changes and written to his local MP Martyn Jones.
However a statement from the council said: "Denbighshire County Council has been investigating complaints alleging noise nuisance from the Sun Inn, Llangollen for over 12 months.
"The licence holders have been contacted on numerous occasions, meetings have been attended, advice provided and a number of improvements have been introduced by the Sun Inn to tackle the noise problems.
"Despite all theses measures being taken, complaints were still being received and so additional noise monitoring was carried out.
"Monitoring established that a noise nuisance existed from both the playing of amplified music and also from shouting in the beer garden."
