PLANS for a popular pub’s licence to be extended have been approved – subject to a number of conditions and despite concerns from neighbours.

The Railway Hotel in Stour Road, Christchurch had applied for a variation of their licence to allow them to serve alcohol from an outside bar until 10.30am.

Residents had raised concerns about the levels of noise and behaviour of pub-goers should this be allowed to go ahead.

But now the application has been approved, the pub says they will work with the community to resolve these issues.

Lucy Barker, operations director at Punch Pubs and Co, said: “The Railway is a fantastic pub and an integral part of our portfolio.

“The Publican aims to work with the local community to ensure the planned investment within the pub garden is a success and looks forward to sharing it with them ahead of the summer season.”

At a meeting of BCP Council’s sub-licensing committee last month, members heard from representatives from the pub as well as a local resident.

And following mediation with the pub, Dorset Police and Environmental Health both withdrew their objections to the licence variation.

Fourteen people had objected to the application to serve alcohol from the outside bar.

One of the objections said: “I believe people should be able to retire to bed at a reasonable time of day without being disturbed by noise on a regular basis.

“If the bar is open until 11pm and then patrons are allowed to still take food and drink outside after this time it will be well after midnight before noise levels will die down allowing nearby residents to sleep.

“I have often noticed broken glass on the pavement and on the road outside the entrance to the garden of the pub which I consider a safety hazard.”

Another said: “I had hoped that the refurbishment of the pub may improve the antisocial behaviour which we have experienced here for many years but sadly, this is not the case and the clientele remains the same troublesome crowd.

“I hear noise from the pub most nights until closing time and beyond. I have woken in the morning to find vomit outside my gates, broken glass, beer bottles and glasses. I have installed additional security at my property as one night, two punters wandered through my gate into my property in their drunken state.”

Conditions the pub have to abide by include the external bar only being the size of the toilet block it will replace, CCTV must cover the garden and continually record areas where alcohol is served and consumed.

Environmental health conditions included no music outside after 11pm and the outside area to be empty by 11pm. A direct telephone number for the pub manager must be available when the pub is open – for residents and neighbouring businesses.