Richmond family try to call time on late night pub noise

By Laura Wignall

A Hampton Hill couple are furious after a pub beneath their flat could be set for longer opening hours.

The Refectory pub opened on December 6 2013 and last week Richmond Council granted permission to further extend their opening hours.

The pub applied to open an hour later from Thursday to Saturday, and one and a half hours earlier everyday except Sunday which would be two hours earlier.

Residents Danielle Neville and Joe Paul attended the planning committee meeting arguing against the application for longer opening hours.

Two years ago when they were sold the flats, the estate agents informed them that the ground floor was going to be a supermarket.

Mr Paul said: “We were told by the estate agents in conjunction with the property developer that it was 95% going to be a Waitrose, and if not a Fitness First.”

The residents have filed nuisance reports to the Environmental Health department as they believe there has been a licensing breach with music, noise and drinking taking place outside of the opening hours.

The residents kept a log of dates and events including a fight on opening night which spilled out on to the busy road and people urinating outside their front door.

Ms Neville added: “The pub has a major impact on our life and the life of our seven-year-old stepdaughter.

 “She previously never had any problems sleeping. She told us she has to put her stuffed toys over her head at night in order to sleep with the noise downstairs.”

Councillor Malley, who has been involved with the planning application, says he has had a number of conversations with the pub about noise.

He said that within the papers there is a suggested planning condition relating to acoustic insulation.

Councillor Clare Head was sympathetic to the neighbours’ issues and said: “There needs to be a belt and braces exercise to prevent the escape of noise.

“I would be interested in a complete plan that has to address every single complaint that the residents have.”

Councillor Jeager agreed with Councillor Head that the additional conditions must be added and the problem with noise needs to be solved before it is made worse.

The council voted overwhelmingly in favour of the application, seven for, two against, but on a temporary basis and subject to a noise attenuation measure.

Image courtesy of Refectory is courtesy of TripAdvisor”>TripAdvisor, with thanks.

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