'Killjoys' halt pub's fun days (From Thisisdorset)

'Killjoys' halt pub's fun days

11:32am Wednesday 2nd July 2008 in

• Skip social links
• Print
• Email
•  

A WEYMOUTH pub has been told to forget holding outdoor events in the future after nearby residents complained about noise at a summer garden party.

Hundreds of guests flocked to the New Inn at Littlemoor for the event, organised to bring people together on the sometimes troubled estate.

The problem-free party - featuring a barbecue and live music - was widely advertised and finished at 6pm.

But several residents complained and now council officers have told the Littlemoor Road pub not to stage similar garden gatherings.

New Inn manager Sophie George said: "We just wanted to do something for the community, given all the problems in Littlemoor.

"But apparently, because of the complaints, if we ask to hold outdoor parties again the answer will be no.

"It's a shame that a handful of people can ruin something that hundreds of others really enjoyed.

"It was absolutely packed and there were no problems. We had so much positive feedback.

"Lots of people we'd never seen before came and there were guests in their 70s right down to little ones."

More than 200 people attended the party and enjoyed tunes from local band the Travelling Blueberries.

Licensing and environmental health officials from Weymouth and Portland Borough Council and West Dorset District Council visited the New Inn days later.

They told Mrs George she would not be allowed to stage similar outdoor events with music.

"Apparently it was too loud," she said. "But we cleared it all beforehand and it was in the afternoon, not the evening.

"They said if we hold another one the band has to play inside, we have to keep doors and windows shut and have security to make sure they're not opened.

"That defeats the object of a garden party. I couldn't believe it."

Barry Newman, 63, of Buddleia Close, who attended the garden party, shared Mrs George's dismay.

He said: "Bah, humbug to the one or two killjoys who've put paid to local people's enjoyment and derailed the New Inn's plans in helping to foster community relations.

"Yes it was noisy but it finished in the early evening. Notices were widely advertised and there was no trouble.

"Littlemoor has come under duress over the years due to social misbehaviour and local people are doing their best to correct this and live in harmony.

"This garden party certainly helped in that aim. I sat in the New Inn garden having a great time and left feeling all was right in the world."

West Dorset District Council environmental health manager Graham Duggan said: "We received four complaints from neighbours of the New Inn about loud music.

"Officers contacted their colleagues at Weymouth and Portland Borough Council and together they visited the pub to offer advice.

"We'll be writing to the pub advising against the use of amplified music in the garden in the future."

A spokesperson for Weymouth and Portland Borough Council said: "Although this was a one-off event, the number of complaints indicates that the noise disturbance to local residents was considerable."