‘Pub licence will ruin our lives’

The pub, in Waterside, is in the middle of a built-up residential area, consisting mainly of flats.

Landlords Vicki Catton and George Osbourne applied to Chiltern District Council to extend drinking hours to midnight each weekday and 2am at the weekends.

John Summers, of nearby Wentworth Place, pleaded with councillors at a meeting of the licensing and regulation sub-committee not to allow late drinking.

He said: "I am representing four of my neighbours here today.

"We have big concerns because of past incidents with this pub.

"One person with an ASBO Anti- Social Behaviour Order does frequent the pub and there have been incidents."

Mr Summers also said people coming to the pub park along the roads, not in the small car park, causing problems for residents with cars.

Residents said they have also had problems with noise pollution coming from the pub.

Mr Summers, an air traffic control engineer, works shifts and has to get up very early in the morning.

He explained: "There has been at least one occurrence of karaoke going on until 4.30am in the morning.

"I and my friends and neighbours can see that happening a lot more often."

He added: "It has improved since the new landlords have taken over but it is still falls down on this."

At present the pub does not have an entertainment licence, which would allow karaoke.

Miss Catton said: "We took over the pub in January 2005.

"We do not come from this area and we were unaware that the pub had a reputation before we took it on.

"We have spent a significant amount of money on the pub to change the customer base that come in."

If the licence was granted, the couple agreed to have bouncers on the door to stop people using the pub simply for a late drink.

They also agreed to have regular meetings with the residents' association.

Mr Osbourne and Miss Catton added that the bar is a member of Pubwatch and anyone on the banned list would not be allowed to enter.