Pub to keep outdoor seating after crime concerns

The Dog and Gun in Syston, Leicestershire, appealed after retrospective planning for outdoor seating was rejected

A pub in Leicestershire has won an appeal to keep its outdoor seating after concerns it would lead to crime.

The Dog and Gun in Syston was told by Charnwood Borough Council in May that it could not continue to use part of its car park as a seating area for customers.

A retrospective planning application for outdoor benches and a pergola was rejected by the authority.

After an appeal against that decision by Punch Pubs, which owns the watering hole, a planning inspector ruled permission for the change of use of the land should be granted.

Planning officers who rejected the retrospective plan said they felt the area was "untidy", the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS) said.

The council also feared the outdoor space would be "difficult to control and monitor" due to it being accessible outside the pub's opening hours, saying it could "lead to crime and antisocial behaviour" in its earlier ruling.

The LDRS said Syston residents echoed concerns about crime and noise relating to the outdoor seating area.

However, a planning inspector felt the seating and its associated planters "enhance" the "previously poor appearance" of the car park.

The inspector added they believed Punch Pub's proposed measures for managing the use of the seating, including hours of use, staff monitoring, CCTV and no music were "adequate".

Residents' living conditions were not considered to be adversely impacted by noise or antisocial behaviour connected to the outdoor area.