Pub overwhelmed by support after noise abatement notice

Martin Hinkes, who runs The Crown Inn in Everton, has seen his petition in opposition to New Forest District Council’s action attract more than 1,000 signatures.

Mr Hinkes, 40, said he was shocked to receive the notice from council officers having been in dialogue with them for several months about the fundraisers he has organised since taking over the New Forest venue .

He told the Daily Echo he has been given “quite ambiguous” advice from the local authority.

The pub licensee took the decision to temporarily suspend live music events, which have raised almost £10,000 for good causes.

“We are a community pub and we do not want to upset the neighbours but at the same time we want to try to still hold these charity events and make a living,” Mr Hinkes said.

“I was just absolutely gutted. We pride ourselves on being a community pub and we want to be able to do these events to support local charities and charities which mean something to local people.”

He said the pub agreed a plan of moving the location of the music events between the front of the pub, the rear of the premises and inside.

A jazz quintet briefly performed outside on the afternoon of June 25 before moving inside due to rain. The council told Mr Hinkes they received a complaint from this event and would need to monitor the situation. He said he was told the venue was “a long way off any abatement notice”.

Further music events took place at the venue in Old Christchurch Road on July 2 and July 16, the latter being a fundraiser for Alzheimer’s Research UK.

Martin Hinkes, licensee of The Crown Inn, Sheryl from Lymington dementia action group, Lynne Whit, whose husband passed away last year with dementia, Claire Hannen, the pub's general manager and supervisor Ellie Grant-Barnes

The outside events are usually in the afternoon and music has never been played outside later than 8pm, Mr Hinkes said.

Officers monitored the July 16 fundraiser from a nearby premises and issued the abatement notice four days later.

Mr Hinkes said this notice, which if ignored could lead to prosecution, made things difficult but we was keen to avoid court and find a “middle ground”.

On the response he has received to the petition, he said: “It is absolutely incredible. I was really considering my position her. Do I continue to do this? It has broken 1,000 supporters, which is amazing when you consider the size of the village.

“The support is phenomenal and it has given me more resolve to continue and work to find a solution so we can continue our fundraisers.

“Since starting the petition we have decided to do a fundraiser on the bank holiday Monday for Prostate Cancer UK.

“My hesitations are with New Forest District Council. I do not really trust them anymore and I do not have any faith with him.”

He added: “The council is asking for us to put a proposal together for them but the most recent thing they have said is no more than four outside events a year.”

A New Forest District Council spokeswoman said the local authority received a number of complaints from residents since January.

“As required by law, we investigated the complaints to determine whether the noise being complained about amounts to a statutory nuisance. The determination of nuisance depends on a number of factors including the audibility and impact of the noise and the frequency and duration of events,” the spokesperson said.

"Despite an informal approach to attempt to improve the situation, complaints continued, and officers subsequently determined a statutory nuisance based on the evidence collated, which included officer lead noise monitoring from complainants’ properties. Therefore, as required by law, a noise abatement notice was served on July 20, 2022, requiring the noise nuisance from music and amplified speech to be abated within 14 days of the service of the notice.

“The requirement to abate the nuisance is not a requirement to cease music at The Crown Inn. Music and events can still be held on site but in a manner that does not result in a noise nuisance for local residents.

“Our officers continue to be available to discuss any measures being considered by The Crown Inn as a means to abate the nuisance and ensure compliance with the notice served.”