Hungerford Club wins late licence

The club’s secretary, John Smith, applied to West Berkshire Council for a section 17 premises license which would allow the club to sell alcohol and late night refreshment and provide regulated entertainment following big matches or when the venue is hired for private parties.
The application was discussed at a meeting of the licensing sub-committee, at which one Hungerford resident, Rhona Carter, said that loud music previously played at the venue had left her unable to open her windows in the summer and, on one instance, unable to sleep when music was played late on a Monday night.
She said: “Even with the windows shut we have to turn the volume up on the TV. We have replaced the windows and still we are suffering because the noise from the tannoy is so loud.
“They have totally disregarded the fact that it’s a residential area. At 10.20pm on a Monday evening they had music blaring out and I had to leave for work at quarter to six in the morning - it’s totally unacceptable.”
However, a representative from the club, Steven Skipworth said measures had already been put in place to cut the impact of noise on surrounding residents, including the installation of new speakers to replace the external tannoy system previously used to play music, and that a noise pollution system was also being installed to monitor the volume outside the building.
“With the speakers, the noise won’t flow so you shouldn’t hear anything now,” said Mr Skipworth.
He added: “The club doesn't just get used as a football club, it gets used for parties. We’re getting people come in because we are a recognised club, it’s good for the town.
“If a member has a party there we can’t sell any alcohol to the people who visit the club.
“We are still going to be a members’ club, we are not trying to change what we have been doing since 1951.”
Mr Skipworth added that local residents would be informed if any large events were to be held at the club and permission for outdoor events would be sought from the council on an ad hoc basis.
The committee granted the application subject to the following conditions: outdoor live music is not permitted; outdoor recorded music is permitted only through speakers with noise limiters attached as approved by West Berkshire Council Environmental Health Team and, during indoor regulated entertainment, all doors and windows are to be kept shut except for access.