Village pub can stay open later despite objections

The council heard that 12 tenants had been in the pub since 2018

A village pub near Barnsley has been granted permission to extend its opening hours despite objections.

The Green Dragon in Thurgoland can open from 08:00 every day, until midnight Monday to Wednesday and on Sundays, 00:30 on Thursdays and 02:00 on Fridays and Saturdays.

Five objectors at the Barnsley Council licensing board meeting raised concerns over noise and the potential for crime.

Star Pubs and Bars Ltd said it aimed to operate the pub as a community asset and had dropped plans to extend the hours for live and recorded music.

'Dedicated complaints line'

According to the Local Democracy Reporting Service, objector Martin Thorpe told the meeting: "I don’t think any of us want to see the pub close.

"I think it’s an act of desperation to ask to open a pub 18 hours a day.

"I think it’s a ridiculous request.

"It’s a residential village with young families, elderly people, a very quiet village, and we don’t want to see anything that disrupts that."

George Domleo, speaking on behalf of applicant Star Pubs and Bars, said the change in opening hours would allow the pub to diversify its offerings by providing breakfast, and would allow customers to enjoy a longer stay.

He said the company also agreed to install a CCTV system, operate a Challenge 25 policy to prevent under-age drinking, and provide residents with a dedicated phone number and email address for a designated premises supervisor, to allow residents to make complaints directly during opening hours.

The licensing board unanimously approved the application on the grounds that a minimum of two staff would be on duty at all times

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