A HIGH WYCOMBE pub which sold booze to a 14-year-old girl in 2017 wants to sell alcohol into the early hours of the morning.
The Fox Country Inn, in Ibstone, has also applied for an extension to the hours it is allowed to stay open and play live music — sparking fears from residents the countryside establishment will resemble a “nightclub”.
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Should the plans be nodded through by Buckinghamshire Council, punters drinking at the bar would be able to buy alcohol and listen to live music until the pub closes at 1 am from Monday to Thursday, and to 2 am from Friday to Sunday.
This comes despite the pub being rapped by police in 2017 for selling a vodka-and-coke to a teenage girl.
Police asked to review the licence held by the pub after a plainclothes officer was joined by the 14-year-old cadet undertaking a test purchase operation.
The barman who sold the drink to the girl told police chiefs he had no formal training by pub bosses.
Following the incident, The Fox Inn was told it can only sell alcohol if a personal licence holder is on the premises.
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Now pub managers want to extend the hours they can sell alcohol from the current restricted times of until midnight Sunday to Wednesday and until 1 am Thursday to Saturday.
A number of neighbours are not happy with these plans, however, with several sending in objections to the proposal over fears including increased noise, anti-social behaviour and more drink-driving.
One wrote to the council: “The changes to the hours during the week are that of a nightclub.
“Further concerns over the increase in hours means residents of the pub (who are staying over) may drink into the early hours, become heavily intoxicated and then be drink-driving when leaving early in the morning.”
Another wrote: “The Fox is located in the quiet family-orientated village of Ibstone.
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“The noise from people talking… car doors slamming, engines revving… is already a disturbance to neighbours.
“This will undoubtedly become even more of a public nuisance if the hours are extended.”
Police have not objected to the extension application, which will be decided by a panel of councillors at a meeting on Tuesday, April 28.
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