LICENSING chiefs have given the go-ahead for Ross-on-Wye Rugby Club to sell alcohol and host indoor music events.

Herefordshire Council’s licensing sub-committee has granted permission for drink to be sold and only consumed at Abbotts Close in Greytree.

Indoor live and record music is also allowed, but only on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 6pm to 10pm, Saturdays from 2pm to 11pm and Sundays and Boxing Day from 11am to 6pm.

Five local residents spoke against the club’s original request at the meeting earlier this month.

Initially, the club wanted permission to be able to play music at any time between Monday to Sunday from 10am to 11pm.

Locals were concerned that anti-social behaviour, under-age drinking on the streets and excessive noise they say they witnessed during Olliefest would be replicated.

They also said people urinate in residents’ hedges when leaving events at the rugby club.

But the residents told the committee they would be happy with a licence being granted if there were a limit to the number of days an hours the club could sell alcohol, and providing it would not be sold for consumption off site.

Rugby club representatives expressed sympathy for the residents, but noted that Olliefest was not run by them.

They said they wanted a licence to sell beer after matches and training sessions and that it would only be sold in cans as there we no plans to install alcohol pumps.

The club agreed to amend their licence application.

And the licensing sub-committee gave it the green light with a condition that the club should inform residents of any upcoming events no less than 28 days before.