IT IS working so why change it?

That was the question asked by neighbours trying to prevent a hotel being allowed to sell alcohol to guests 24 hours a day.

The Rock Hotel in Holywell Green was seeking permission from Calderdale Council to extend its premises licence hours to 1am at weekends.

But 16 residents living near the Broad Carr Lane venue objected on noise and nuisance grounds.

They cited a recent party that got out of hand and caused problems in the village as a reason councillors should reject the licence variation.

Robert Thomson, solicitor for the venue, told councillors the unruly culprits were not guests of the party but youths who had been drinking in the local park and caused trouble after bring refused entry.

Mr Thompson said the extra hours they were seeking amounted to two hours a week, while residents could be served inside the venue 24 hours a day, daily.

Objector Paul Hadfield told councillors: “Historically the issue with The Rock related to the conditions of the previous licence and when these conditions were put in it was to stop it.”

The solicitor for the venue said police did not object nor had any police attended the venue since manager Lawrance Smith has been in charge.

Clrs Bryan Smith, John Hardy and Faisal Shoukat approved the licence as sought, but attached a number of conditions.

The Rock can only serve alcohol after hours to residents of the hotel, not guests of residents, recorded music must cease at midnight Sunday to Thursday and 1am Saturday and Sunday mornings, and the venue must close to guests at 1.30am.

Teenage parties must finish at 10.30pm and no under 16s are permitted in the venue after 9pm unless they are dining, at a function or a resident of the hotel.

The approval ends a turbulent year for the popular wedding venue. It was saved from closure earlier this year when its former manager left and staff went unpaid.

Lawrance Smith and business partner Declan Pharo were brought in by Enterprise Inns to transform the venue.

Calderdale councillors also approved a premises licence for The Gatsby.

It means the former Caddy Shack, based at The Cross in Elland, can re-open as a pub. It will re-open as a licensed cafe and wine bar with a beer garden.