Smoking ban leads to nuisance noise (From The Argus)

Smoking ban leads to nuisance noise

7:51pm Tuesday 16th October 2007 in

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The smoking ban and weak licensing controls are transforming a quiet city side road into another rowdy West Street, residents have claimed.

Neighbours in Cheltenham Place in Brighton told The Argus they were fed up with anti-social drinkers creating disturbances outside their homes late into the night.

They said they were bearing the brunt of an experience being suffered by residents across the North Laine district of the city cente.

Magazine publisher Louise McArthur, of Cheltenham Place, said: "It's getting worse and worse. It feels like we are under siege."

The residents say increasing numbers of pubs and bars are pandering to smokers by extending both their outdoor facilities and the hours they can be used.

Smoking inside pubs has been banned since July 1 and as a result drinkers have been congregating outside until late in the evening.

Residents said in the narrow streets of North Laine the noise this is creating is a particular problem.

The issue in Cheltenham Place has been exacerbated with the opening of a new pub, The Fountainhead, on the corner with North Road in April. It has a licence for customers to sit outside until 11pm.

Charity chief executive Debbie Charman, of Cheltenham Place, said: "The noise is constant and goes on late at night. This is such a tiny road it almost feels as though people are inside my house, I can hear them that clearly.

"I moved here because it was in the centre and close to everything but was peaceful. The noise has become so bad I'd consider moving out again."

Brighton and Hove City Councillor Ian Davey, who represents North Laine, said: "This is a problem throughout the area but at Cheltenham Place it has become particularly acute."

The residents fear the situation is set to worsen. The Fountainhead has applied for permission to have shelters and heaters for its outdoor area so it can be used in winter.

And Bill's Produce Store in North Road, which backs on to Cheltenham Place, has applied to extend its licence to sell alcohol and play music indoors from 8pm to 11pm.

Brighton and Hove City Council's licensing panel will decide whether to grant permission at a meeting at Brighton town hall on Friday at 9.30am.

The Basketmakers Arms, on the corner of Gloucester Road at the opposite end of Cheltenham Place to The Fountainhead, has also applied for permission to keep its tables outside until 11pm, instead of the current 8pm.

Miss McArthur said: "We need them to be careful with the licensing otherwise we're in danger of becoming another West Street."

Both the landlord of the Fountainhead and its owners, the Zelgrain group, refused to comment, as did the manager of Bill's Produce Store.

Albert McCausland, the manager of the Basketmakers, said: "We sympathise with the neighbours. We need to keep the tables so we can control the outdoor area properly.

"Otherwise people spread out down the street and the problem gets worse."

A Brighton council spokesman said the local authority had been in touch with ward councillors and North Laine Community Association about the issue.

He said the 2003 Licensing Act allowed licences to be reviewed and people could contact the licensing department if they had concerns.

The spokesman said: "The council is obliged to keep an open mind and would want to hear all sides in any particular situation."

Is your area becoming a nightmare because of the ban on smoking? Leave your comments below.