A CHUDLEIGH resident is up in arms that the Bishop Lacey public house has been given a provisional public entertainment licence, to sell alcohol on Friday and Saturday nights in their new function room until 12.30am.
Brenda Rawlinson, of Fore Street, and other residents think that with the extended hours there will be excessive noise, street disturbance and there could be an increase in criminal damage to properties. She stresses:
'We have regularly been disturbed. The police are aware of these problems.'
The police, however, have liaised with the pub and CCTV will be installed as a security and surveillance measure, and doormen have been taken on as a precaution for any trouble
Robin Bishop, landlord of the Bishop Lacey, defended the pub: 'We have a good relationship with the police and have gone through all the right channels to get this licence. It has taken over a year to get the licence,' he said.
'The license is only valid for a year, and then has to be renewed, so it would be in our best interest not to cause any bother,' he stated.
'I believe there is a demand for the newly-decorated function room. We believe in high standards and employed Fruition from Torquay to make the room classy.
'We just want our customers to enjoy themselves in a safe and controlled environment and have employed door staff and CCTV to make sure this is the case.
'Our target market are not the type of people to cause any trouble and misbehave on the way home.'
The pub's new licence means that it is not allowed to let any customers into the pub after 11pm, but can serve alcohol in the function room bar until 12.30am and will close at 1am. But Mrs Rawlinson sees this as a problem.
'If people are not allowed into the pub after 11pm, where will they go? They will be left on the streets and with no CCTV, damage could be done,' she said.
'I believe the police did not address this fully.'
Mrs Rawlinson felt that if there was no CCTV on the streets how could the police identify those creating havoc?
She has gained support from her husband and other residents in the area on another issue surrounding the pub – parking.
'We have double yellow lines outside our house, but know people will park outside my home while going to the pub,' she said.
'At that time of night there are not any traffic wardens working.'
Landlord Robin Bishop hit back by saying: 'We are in the process of having seven or eight parking bays put opposite the pub for customers to park in which will help the situation.'
Chudleigh parish councillor Steve Evans backs the pub's new licence, he said.
'The licence has been sought after in a very responsible way. Mr and Mrs Bishop have done their best to ensure that all has been done to make sure no trouble is caused, by having CCTV and employing doormen.
'At present the Bishop Lacey have a six months' trial period to prove themselves, and after that time we have asked that there will definitely be a review of the circumstances.
'This doesn't normally happen. Those pubs with this kind of licence, who have not caused any upset, do not have the review and get the full 12-month licence – but we see it as a change to the town and we will be reviewing the licence.'
he added: 'However, I believe some residents are confused as to where trouble is occurring.
'The Bishop Lacey has bought out only half of the Chudleigh Constitutional Club for the function room, and there was an incident the week before last which has been blamed on the Bishop Lacey.' it ws not the pub's fault, said Cllr Evans.
Cllr Evans said that he realised it was a 'big change' for the town, and anyone who has any concerns about the matter should contact him or the parish council.