A Caerphilly county borough licence holder has been prosecuted for breaching the conditions of the licence on his premises.
Brett Andrew Podmore, formerly of the Harlequin public house in Fairview, Pengam was taken to court after local residents complained to Caerphilly County Borough Council’s Trading Standards team that the public house’s licensing conditions were being breached.
The offences were for the use of the outside areas of the public house after 11pm, and the playing of music after 11pm, which were in contravention of the licence conditions.
Despite Trading Standards advising Mr Podmore on several occasions of the need to abide by the conditions of the licence, the problems persisted.
Brett Andrew Podmore appeared at Caerphilly Magistrates Court recently (23rd September 2010), where he pleaded guilty to the offences. He was fined £160 (reduced from £240 due to an early guilty plea) and was ordered to pay £117 investigative costs, £85 prosecution costs and a £15 victim surcharge.
A Caerphilly County Borough Council Licensing Enforcement Officer witnessed the breaches of the licensing conditions, and the decision to prosecute was taken due to the significant nuisance experienced by local residents.
Cllr Lyn Ackerman, Cabinet Member for the Environment said, “Noise nuisance can seriously affect the quality of life of residents, and licence holders have legal responsibilities regarding noise emanating from their premises”.
She continued, “Our residents deserve to be able to go about their business without noise nuisance affecting their quality of life. I am pleased that the court has reflected this in the fine it has imposed.”
For further information, please call Trading Standards on 01495 235 291.
