Gig causes rugby club to face licence censure

West Berkshire Council’s Environmental Health department investigated the Monks Lane club over concerns it breached a prevention of public nuisance order, and has ordered a review of its licence.
The club will appear before a West Berkshire Council panel today (Wednesday) with Environmental Health recommending the club has its extended licence to play music until 2am clipped.
The chairman of the rugby club, Julian Lewis, said the extension was temporarily granted to allow the club to host the Newbury Beach Tournament (pictured) earlier this year in an attempt to boost its coffers.
However the boisterous event drew complaints from residents, and officers want to see this limited to 11pm.
“We put the extension in place but never had any intention to carry on past 12, and the last part of the night was a silent disco,” he said.
“Unfortunately they felt we had overstepped the mark and we’ll be speaking to them about that. We have been in ongoing discussions with the council over this. It was temporary, so if it is taken off us we would look to re-apply and go through the process again.”
An increased buffer zone was set up between the club and houses in nearby Monks Lane to restrict noise coming from the club, and was first put to the test at the Newbury Beach Tournament, between July 13 and 15.
A test was carried out by officers on the first night, resulting in bass levels from the music being deemed high as complaints began to flood in from residents living in Monks Lane, Tydehams, The Oaks, and Deadmans Lane.
Despite a reduction in noise levels being on subsequent nights - no further complaints were logged, the club was found to have caused a public nuisance offence.
According to the report, management did not have effective controls in place, leading to fears of a repeat in future.
Representations in support of restricting the licence were submitted by Greenham Parish Council, and a resident living nearby.
The hearing will be held at 2pm.