By Jamie Waller, Local Democracy Reporter
Newark pubs are now struggling so much that care is needed when dealing with noise complaints about them, councillors have said.
Newark and Sherwood District Council renewed its licensing policy at a full council meeting on Tuesday (December 13).
Members expressed concern about the vulnerable state of pubs, even as some are dealing with challenges around noise and vaping.
Councillor Johno Lee (Con) said: “There’s two pub closing in England every day. They are already seriously struggling financially.
“We have to be really careful as a local authority not to put undue burdens on them.
“Wetherspoons has already closed in Newark, and we’ve lost four more in the town centre that I’m aware of. It won’t be long until more follow.”
Councillor David Moore (Ind) said: “Unfortunately groups of people leaving licensed premises at midnight aren’t always going to be quiet.
“The onus shouldn’t be on the landlord to police this – it should be the responsibility of the people drinking.
“It may affect a pub’s income otherwise, and we don’t want that. Pubs are a great social magnet for lot of communities.”
The council’s Environmental Health officers can investigate complaints about excessive noise from licensed premises.
There were questions about why the policy didn’t include a strict decibel limit for pubs to adhere to.
Councillor Paul Taylor (Lab), the portfolio holder for public protection and community safety: “Noise is a real problem for some pubs.
“The new regulations allow officers to work with those premises. If they co-operate, issues can be resolved.
“There was a case recently in Newark where the licensee thought it was better to publicise the problems on social media, but we managed to get them resolved when they sat down with the council.”
Councillor Jean Hall (Lab), the chair of the licensing committee agreed: “Volume is an issue with some pubs. We’ve got to find that balance and give the licensee the chance to deal with that.
“We need to help pubs be successful.”
Other councillors asked whether there should be a ban on vaping indoors to stop customers from being turned away.
Cllr Moore said: “Vaping is worse than smoking in my book – who wants that awful pineapple smell?”
Cllr Roger Jackson (Con) said: “Landlords are policing this themselves. Most people complain that it’s antisocial.”
