Ludlow pub hits back in noise row

11:06am Thursday 6th November 2008

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THE owner of a Ludlow pub at the centre of a row over noise has denied claims that it is being turned into a nightclub.

Michael Ashton, who owns The Bull Hotel in Corve Street, says his premises are being unfairly blamed for any late night disturbance in the town.

His response follows a decision by Ludlow Town Council to express its concern at noise and disturbance from the Bull.

“We have a licence to open until 3am and have only ever used this once,” said Mr Ashton.

“The suggestion that we are a nightclub is wrong. We are not a nightclub and do not want to be a nightclub.

“Complaints are taken very seriously but we have only received three. Two of them were from people who have second homes behind the pub and one was from The Feathers Hotel.

“It seems we get blamed for every late night disturbance. On one occasion we were asked to turn down the music when we did not even have any music playing. The noise was coming from elsewhere in the town.”

However, Councillor Geoffrey Wilcox told a meeting of the town council that the Bull was causing major concerns for people living in the vicinity.

“If there is a need for a night club in Ludlow this is not the location,” he said.

Chris Crowcroft, who lives in Church Walk, behind the Bull, told the meeting that there was no point in his trying to get to bed before 2.30am on a Sunday morning because of the noise.

Nick James, who lives in Corve Street, complained of noise and anti-social behaviour including the breaking of windows.

Ian Taylor, general manager of The Feathers Hotel, claimed that visitors were being driven away from Ludlow.

“People come to Ludlow for a break and are disturbed by the noise and leave upset. These people will not come back to the town,” he said. “Our guests and staff have to run the gauntlet of drunken youths late at night.”

But Councillor Michael Bradley was against young people being denied entertainment in the town. “If there is any trouble then it is up to the police to deal with it. This is why we pay our taxes,” he said.