Late night hours row

The owners are also seeking opening from 6am until 3.30 the following morning on 15 occasions each year - including Maundy Thursday which, if granted, would allow drink to be served until 3am on Good Friday.

Many of the objectors complain of existing after-hours anti-social behaviour in Old Town and say that because their properties are in a Conservation Area they are unable to install sound insulation.

The licensing panel set up by Rother under new legislation which has taken responsibility from magistrates' courts and given them to local authorities sits at the Town Hall at 9.30am on Wednesday to hear the Bell application together with applications from Burwash and Rye.

It will have to strike a balance between the aspirations of Bell Hotel owners The Bar Group Ltd of Edenbridge, Kent and neighbours' concerns.

The applicants seek permission to stay open until midnight Mondays to Thursdays instead of the current 11pm and until midnight on Sundays instead of the current 10.30pm.

But the major difference is Friday night-Saturday morning when they are seeking an extension from the present 11pm until 1am.

They also want permission for live music until half past midnight and for recorded music until 1.30am on Saturdays.

In a report for Wednesday's meeting, Rother director of services Tony Leonard says 16 representations have been received opposing extended hours:

"Representations refer to noise from patrons leaving the public house at closing time ass well as general anti-social behaviour at this time coupled with damage to private properties.

"Representations also make reference to the nuisance caused by existing live music...

"Many representations refer to the fact that they live in conservation properties and are unable to install sound-proofing."

The large rock thrown over their garden wall onto the roof of the conservatory of their Church Street cottage has reinforced Don and Joy Doswell's resolve to object to longer hours. It is the latest in a long series of late-night anti-social behaviour suffered by them and their neighbours.

They say they welcome the pub's presence in Old Town, try to treat successive managers as good neighbours and support the Bell's charity events.

But, says Joy: "We are objecting to these longer hours because we feel they are totally wrong for this area.

"The main problem is the noise from the music. It has not been so bad for the last six months but we have one-off nights when it is awful.

"There is twitten behind our property and the noise from the pub yard echoes up that.

"People in Church Street not only have to endure the noise but the problem when people go home.

"Everyone recognises that they have a business to run. They understand that. But we cannot believe that long hours like this are necessary, especially in this area."

The applicants say there is no identified risk of overcrowding and therefore door controls not proposed.

They say live music will cease 30 minutes before the end of sale of alcohol in order to allow customers to leave the premises in a calm and orderly way.

"Providing 30-minute extension of opening hours after the end of sale of alcohol will promote this objective at the last drink will be consumed less quickly, with access to the pub's toilet facilities."

They say: "The bar is an active member of the local Pubwatch scheme and subscribes to the police and local pub intercom system.

"Regular cellar checks by The Bar Group will ensure that no goods unlawfully imported are kept or stored at the premises.

"The bar follows the safer clubbing guide in respect of its drugs policy.

"The 30-minute extension of opening hours without the sale of alcohol will allow customers time to make arrangements for their safe journey home, it will also relieve the current small window available to local taxi companies to get their customers home....

"Customers will not be allowed to leave the premises with drinking receptacles of any kind, however, it is not proposed to ban the sale of alcohol in bottles due to the safety and peace of mind of our female customers.

"The rear patio area will be closed to customers at 22.00 hours every day and windows/doors will be kept closed during the provision of regulated entertainment that involves music."

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