Residents call for restrictions on ‘noisy’ social club

Oct 2 2007 by Gareth Rogers, South Wales Echo

NEIGHBOURS are calling for a noisy political club to close its doors early.

Residents want drinkers at the County Conservative Club in Cardiff to be ushered inside half an hour early at 11pm to reduce noise.

Harry Williams, of Groveland Road, Birchgrove, Cardiff, said: “The people leaving the club cause a lot of disturbance and hang around talking outside until much later.

“These sorts of hours might be acceptable for the city centre, but this is a residential area.”

Susan Bull, of Groveland Road, said: “We have to put up with the noise those leaving the club create and there is a concern about the location of the smoking area. The health and disturbance of those living next to the club has not been taken into consideration.”

June Williams, of Groveland Road, said: “We are incensed by the lack of consideration for what could be a very nice residential area.”

Residents made the call as club licensee John Griffiths asked for the right to open his Caerphilly Road club from 10am every day and from 8am when members have to set off early for organised outings or trips.

The club currently opens from 11am until 11.30pm. Police are happy with earlier opening, but they, along with environment health officers, want drinkers to be moved inside the club by 11pm.

They want the condition added to the club’s licence after neighbours wrote to Cardiff council’s licensing sub-committee to complain about the extra hours.

Chief Inspector Steve Furnham has asked that only people going on trips are allowed to drink from 8am and that the smoking areas are closed by 11pm.

Police must be notified 48 hours before any special event is planned.

The application will be considered by the council’s licensing sub-committee on Friday.

gareth.rogers@mediawales.co.uk