At an Extraordinary Meeting on Wednesday 28th August, Midsomer Norton Town Council resolved to lodge an appeal against the outcome of a licensing review for the Greyhound Hotel, in Midsomer Norton.

B&NES Council's Licensing Sub-Committee considered a review of the Greyhound's licence at the end of July. The review had been called by its own Licensing Officers on evidence that conditions had been continuously ignored over the previous eighteen months.

Despite heavily criticising the premises in their decision summary which resulted in the licensing objectives being 'seriously undermined' and also recognising the significant effect on residents, B&NES Sub Committee then decided to impose a reduction in operating hours, but only for a period of three months.

The decision will allow the premises to then revert to its original conditions and at the same time the Sub Committee removed a condition that prevented entry or re-entry after midnight. This was in spite of the licence holder, Punch Taverns, the Licensing Authority and the police reaching an agreement ahead of the review to change the conditions on a permanent basis. The Sub-Committee appears to have ignored this, as well as a large portfolio of evidence.

Town Cllr, Linda Dunford, pictured left outside the Magistrates Court, who also Chairs the local Community Alcohol Partnership, tabled a proposal to the Town Council to appeal against the outcome of the review as this was the only route available to them to challenge it.

"We have made great progress as a town in tackling the anti-social behaviour of a very small minority that is most often the direct result of alcohol. The majority of licensed premises abide by their conditions, thereby reducing the incidences of crime.

"This was confirmed by Radstock Police at a recent CAP Meeting where they reported that there had been a fall of over 80% in reported criminal damage and a fall of over 20% in assaults. As a Council, our concern is that if the appeal had not been lodged, much of the progress that has been made would effectively have been lost."

Residents and licensees in the town also attended the Extraordinary Meeting and made representations in the public session before the Council debated and voted on the resolution. Deputy Mayor and B&NES Ward Councillor, Michael Evans, said after the meeting: "The Town Council felt that it owed it to the residents and other licensees to challenge the review outcome and continue with the work that it has supported in improving the town at night. The decision of the B&NES Sub-Committee defies logic and as a Town and B&NES Councillor, I felt it was my duty to support the appeal – otherwise the work of the CAP and the Council would all have been for nothing. It's not about stopping people having a good time or restricting the business of our licensed premises, but conditions on licences are there for everyone's benefit and lodging an appeal allows us to try and make sure that this remains the case."

The appeal was lodged with Bath Magistrates and the Council has engaged legal support for the hearing which will take place later in the year.