It’s party time at The Swan

Oldham Licensing Panel reports

A DOBCROSS pub will be allowed to host concerts, parties and other entertainment — despite strong objections from residents.

Sam Wilson, landlord at the Swan Inn, The Square, was granted permission to play music from 7-11pm Mondays to Saturdays, and from 4-10.30pm on Sundays.

The licensing panel also removed restrictions concerning amplified music and granted Mr Wilson permission to stage events on up to 26 Saturdays a year and 10 other occasions with noise to stop at 11pm.

Customers will only be able to use the patio at the back of the pub until 11pm, after which time smokers must leave their drinks inside and go out of the front door.

Mr Wilson, who took over the pub several months ago, said he needed to host functions, such as weddings, birthdays and funerals, as well as live concerts to make sure he can keep the pub open.

He added: “I want to bring the pub back to what it used to be and make it a real community hub. I have huge overheads and am using lots of my own money to keep the pub going.

“I have had CCTV cameras installed to make sure that no one can cause noise and nuisance around the back of the pub.

“I have done everything in my power to make it a healthy and safe environment for customers. The function room has been soundproofed and refurbished but it is a Grade II-listed building so there is only so much I can do.”

Resident Peter Mooney, of Sandy Lane, said: “Nobody wants to see the pub shut down. We are all past and, hopefully, future customers.

“Dobcross is a closely packed village and noise travels far and fast. Some of us could not hear our TV sets when the last band was on and it really affects our quality of life. Amplified noise will cause an unreasonable disturbance.”

The panel instructed that speakers must be kept away from external walls and walls adjoining neighbouring properties.


Under-age sales lose licence

A HOLLINS off-licence owner has been banned from selling alcohol for three months after he sold potentially dangerous counterfeit vodka.

Trading standards officers also received 10 complaints about Gujars Off-Licence in Hollins Road in relation to under-age sales of alcohol, cigarettes and fireworks.

Shabaz Abbas, the shop’s designated supervisor, also gave officers a false name.

The bottle of counterfeit Glens Vodka was bought in February and officers found a further six bottles in the shop.

Cigarettes were sold to a 15-year-old boy during a trading standards exercise in December and other instances of under-age sales date from January, 2004, to July, 2008.

After verbal advice and warning letters, Mr Abbas was prosecuted and fined in 2005.

Trading standards said Mr Abbas had a “relaxed attitude towards his responsibilities and an aggressive attitude towards officers”.

The licensing panel recognised the fact that Mr Abbas has started to make improvements but decided to suspend his licence for three months and remove his status as designated premises supervisor.


Pub ‘makes life misery’

A WATERHEAD homeowner, who wanted the licence of his local reviewed, has had his request turned down.

Alan Marland, of Dunham Street, asked the council’s licensing panel to look at tightening the restrictions on live music at the Gardeners Arms.

Mr Marland said the noise from the pub caused major disruptions to his life as his house is the closest.

He said that although current landlord Carl Marland had stuck to a 12am finish time for live acts, the noise on Saturday nights was still unbearable.

He added: “We can’t relax in our own home, we can’t open windows.”

The panel decided to reject the application after receiving no other complaints.