CHARMOUTH residents have warned they will not tolerate late-night disturbance after a community hall was given an alcohol and music licence.

Residents feared St Andrew’s Community Hall in Lower Sea Lane, a former church hall, would become a ‘night club’ if the late-night application was granted by West Dorset District Council.

The hall’s management committee applied for alcohol to be served until midnight from Sunday to Thursday, until 1am on Friday and Saturday, and until 2am on New Year’s Eve.

They also requested that live music be played until 11pm from Sunday to Thursday, until midnight on Friday and Saturday, and 1am on New Year’s Eve.

Neighbours were worried about anti-social behaviour and late-night disturbance, in a street with many elderly people and children.

In a joint statement, Chris and Dulcie James and neighbour Bob Perry said: “Music being played coupled with people drinking all night will cause a noise nuisance and prevent us enjoying our homes and being able to sleep.”

After a volley of objections from neighbours, and a heated meeting between the two parties in May, an eleventh-hour compromise was reached at last Friday’s licensing sub-committee meeting.

Both alcohol sales and live music will stop at 11pm during the week, at midnight on the weekend, and at 1am on New Year’s Eve.

Residents said the change brings the hall in line with other pubs and restaurants in the village.

They said ‘common sense has prevailed’ but their concerns still stand.

Chris James, who attended the licensing meeting, said: “It’s just seeing how it goes from here on in – if they behave and act responsibly in the community, possibly there won’t be an issue.

“I would say it’s almost the best compromise we could have hoped for.”

The management committee can still apply for a Temporary Event Notice (TEN) licence for special events, up to 12 times a year.

“Therefore it remains to be seen how it all unfolds,” said Mr James.

“But one thing remains very clear, from now on if the music is too loud and continues past the set time or if there is any anti-social behaviour by function attendees at the hall, we will complain.

“From now on, residents will not take a pragmatic view and in the interest of peace and safety for the community we will now operate a zero tolerance to any disturbance.”

The district council put further conditions on the licence to ensure there is no noise disturbance outside the hall, including a rule that the hall windows are to be kept closed.

The St Andrew’s Community Hall Management Committee said: “We are very happy with the outcome of the licensing meeting.”