jrobertson
09-04-08, 10:20 AM
www.sunderlandecho.com (http://www.sunderlandecho.com) - Sunderland Echo - 9th April 2008
'Living hell of sex, noise and vandalism' (http://www.sunderlandecho.com/news/39Living-hell-of-sex-noise.3962099.jp)
By Ross Robertson (ross.robertson@northeast-press.co.uk)
Tearful witnesses sobbed as they told a licensing committee of their "living hell" at the hands of drunken revellers.
The London Inn, which includes the Groove nightclub on Spout Lane, Concord, Washington, has been at the centre of scores of complaints in the past two years.
And neighbours giving evidence yesterday at Sunderland Civic Centre said they were subjected to clubbers having sex in their gardens, urinating outside homes, vandalising cars, brawling and shouting in the early hours of the morning.
Northumbria Police has applied to shut down the club after more than 120 incidents, including allegations that bouncers beat up a customer and intimidated environmental health officers.
Police, environmental health, residents and the club's owner Steven Young are making representations to Sunderland City Council's Licensing Committee at a three-day hearing.
Yesterday, two women who did not want to be named, told the tribunal they suffered noise, nuisance and crime every weekend.
"I don't have anything against Mr Young and I don't have anything against nightclubs in the proper place," said one woman.
"We're told that Mr Young could lose his livelihood, but I have the right to live a normal happy life as well."
Another woman who represented elderly residents from White Ladies' Close, said the mess left behind by clubbers was also a big problem.
"The village in bloom group have worked very hard to make the place attractive, so much so that it has one two silver awards.
"But they have to come out every weekend on Sunday to tidy up after people coming down Spout Lane from the direction of the night club."
She added: "The main nuisance comes from shouting, vandalism and violence: vandalism to gardens and homes.
"Also there's noise from traffic, but it's the noise from people shouting that wakes you up, the sex in your garden – you know this will be from the club."
The tribunal was played a tape recording
of shouts, screams and cheers taken at the club's 2am closing time.
But barrister Geoff Knowles, representing the club, said that most of the noise appeared to be from traffic.
He said Spout Lane was a noisy area and there were several other pubs with cheap drinks promotions close to the London Inn which could be responsible for drunken revellers.
He said Mr Young had spent thousands soundproofing the club, had put barriers in place to funnel customers off the premises and had made arrangements with a taxi company to make sure there was enough transport to get clubbers away quickly.
Marion Dixon, of Sunderland City Council's environmental health department, said Mr Young had been co-operative, but his efforts had not led to a big enough reduction in noise. She said environmental health had not said the club should be shut down, but suggested its hours should be limited.
'Living hell of sex, noise and vandalism' (http://www.sunderlandecho.com/news/39Living-hell-of-sex-noise.3962099.jp)
By Ross Robertson (ross.robertson@northeast-press.co.uk)
Tearful witnesses sobbed as they told a licensing committee of their "living hell" at the hands of drunken revellers.
The London Inn, which includes the Groove nightclub on Spout Lane, Concord, Washington, has been at the centre of scores of complaints in the past two years.
And neighbours giving evidence yesterday at Sunderland Civic Centre said they were subjected to clubbers having sex in their gardens, urinating outside homes, vandalising cars, brawling and shouting in the early hours of the morning.
Northumbria Police has applied to shut down the club after more than 120 incidents, including allegations that bouncers beat up a customer and intimidated environmental health officers.
Police, environmental health, residents and the club's owner Steven Young are making representations to Sunderland City Council's Licensing Committee at a three-day hearing.
Yesterday, two women who did not want to be named, told the tribunal they suffered noise, nuisance and crime every weekend.
"I don't have anything against Mr Young and I don't have anything against nightclubs in the proper place," said one woman.
"We're told that Mr Young could lose his livelihood, but I have the right to live a normal happy life as well."
Another woman who represented elderly residents from White Ladies' Close, said the mess left behind by clubbers was also a big problem.
"The village in bloom group have worked very hard to make the place attractive, so much so that it has one two silver awards.
"But they have to come out every weekend on Sunday to tidy up after people coming down Spout Lane from the direction of the night club."
She added: "The main nuisance comes from shouting, vandalism and violence: vandalism to gardens and homes.
"Also there's noise from traffic, but it's the noise from people shouting that wakes you up, the sex in your garden – you know this will be from the club."
The tribunal was played a tape recording
of shouts, screams and cheers taken at the club's 2am closing time.
But barrister Geoff Knowles, representing the club, said that most of the noise appeared to be from traffic.
He said Spout Lane was a noisy area and there were several other pubs with cheap drinks promotions close to the London Inn which could be responsible for drunken revellers.
He said Mr Young had spent thousands soundproofing the club, had put barriers in place to funnel customers off the premises and had made arrangements with a taxi company to make sure there was enough transport to get clubbers away quickly.
Marion Dixon, of Sunderland City Council's environmental health department, said Mr Young had been co-operative, but his efforts had not led to a big enough reduction in noise. She said environmental health had not said the club should be shut down, but suggested its hours should be limited.