A pub at the centre of a row over noise agreed to install a sound limiter for music - minutes before councillors were to rule on the future of its licence.
The team at the Airedale Heifer in Mirfield reached an agreement with neighbours and Kirklees Council’s licensing and Environmental Health teams immediately before today’s 10.30am meeting, which had been prompted after a series of noise complaints dating back to 2013.
The Stocks Bank Road pub agreed to three conditions: that all doors and windows where live music takes place will be closed from 8pm, save for access; all amplified music will be routed through a sound system with a limiter device, set at a level agreed with licensing; and external areas of the premises shall not be used by customers between 11pm and 10am for the consumption of alcohol.
Clr Mohan Sokhal, Licensing Panel chair, said: “I know, over the years, so many pubs have closed or they are struggling to survive, some play live music and that should not be at the expense of residents.
“But I am pleased all parties have agreed to reach this settlement and set new conditions that the residents are happy with.
“If there are any breaches of these conditions in the future... I think we have to call in a review of these premises.”
John Coen, solicitor for Punch Taverns which owns the pub, replied: “I can assure you there will not be any breaches.”
He had earlier told Clr Sokhal, along with Clrs Karen Allison and Christine Iredale: “We take the point that has been raised and hope these three measures will greatly assist, if not totally assist, the premises in resolving the noise issue with neighbours.”
Neighbour Shaun Roberts said: “If this limiter does the trick I’ve no qualms. If we have no noise form the pub we are happy.”
Landlady Robyn Pogson said customers would be directed away from the smoking shelter in the beer garden and into the customer car park area.
Councillors had been asked to rule on the future of the pub’s premises licence after the council’s Environmental Health service investigated the Stocks Bank Road pub after noise complaints from neighbours.
The pub had been issued with an Abatement Notice, while council officers witnesses a series of noise complaints from July 2013 to September 19 last year.
