A PLANNING committee has submitted a ‘strong objection’ to a Romsey micro-pub extending its opening hours.

The application, sent by Ian Paxton, is to extend the opening hours of the Cocky Anchor, in Market Place, from 11am-10pm to 10am-11.30pm, for a period of six months.

Romsey Town Council’s planning committee had concerns over the impact the extension would have on neighbours. 

The chairman, Cllr Sally Lamb, said that if the hours were extended, it would mean noise would continue until around 1am by the time people had vacated the area.

Cllr John Critchley said: “With the buildings and the abbey and the way it’s set out, the noise reverberates around it. Also, people who live nearby did not receive notices which is really bad. I don’t see why, in an area like that, we should have outside drinking in those hours.”

Two neighbouring residents submitted objections to Test Valley Borough Council.

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Rosalind Boon said: “We hear the noise levels rise in volume as the alcohol flows during the day and into the evening; customers are customers, to call them ‘not your usual broad spectrum of customers like most licensed premises in the locale’ is a nonsense, the alcohol kicks in and that is that. We know, we have listened to them for well over a year - if we want or need an early night, we know there is no point in attempting to go to bed before the garden has been emptied - so to be condemned to no sleep before 11.30pm - at the very earliest - will be intolerable.

“To elaborate, the noise doesn’t end when the licence does as we then listen to staff clearing away, banging doors and can even hear the key going into the lock and turning; this whole process continues until near midnight most nights and we hear it all whether the windows are open or closed.”

Margaret Duncan said: “We do not want noise when trying to get to sleep particularly on summer evenings when the windows are open. This is so particularly for the abutting house. There will probably be cars picking up people who have had a drink with the inevitable slamming of doors.”

On the planning application, it said: "This will be a temporary arrangement to assess the noise levels after 10pm, assuming no tangible change to the current situation then the arrange be made permeant. Conversely, if there is an increase in the noise levels over an above what is considered acceptable, then the arrangement is terminated."

The town council agreed to send in a ‘strong objection’ to the plan.

To view the plan online, search 22/01997/VARS on Test Valley Borough Council’s planning portal.

An application was refused for the same extension last year, with the applicant now adding that it would be for six months. The council's planning statement said that it ‘would result in a significant adverse impact to the amenities of local residents.’

The micro-pub has been contacted for a comment.