Last updated 19:43, Thursday, 24 April 2008

A BASSENTHWAITE hotel hoping to extend its entertainment licence has had objections from neighbours.

The Castle Inn Hotel is applying for a 2am licence to play live and recorded music as well as having a dance floor.

Allerdale council’s licensing panel discuss the hotel’s application on Wednesday.

Residents have written to the council objecting because of noise and the risk of public nuisance.

Michael Ryan, of Castle Hill, Bassenthwaite, said: “We are not sure what type of customer Castle Inn expects to attract but the nuisance associated with that kind of drinking is well enough known.

“We have concerns about the noise and other problems which could follow extended opening hours. There is also the potential for nuisance behaviour.

“Anti-social behaviour in the form of vomiting, rowdyism, noise nuisance from doors slamming, engines revving and noisy verbal exchanges as customers vacate the premises.”

Tom Beattie, of Robin Hood Sawmill, near Bassenthwaite, is worried that opening the hotel for longer at weekends will lead to a drug problem.

He said: “It is difficult to imagine in today’s drink and drug culture that a police presence will not be needed.”

A spokeswoman for the Castle Inn said: “We have never had any problems with the police or with the environmental officers and neither of them have objected to our plans.

“I could sympathise with objecters if there had been problems in the past but that is not the case.

“It’s a shame that it has come to this because some of the residents that have objected to our plans are the same people who still come into the bar, use the swimming pool and are happy to use the facilities here then stab us in the back.”

The Castle Inn wants to sell alcohol from 8am until 2am over the weekend.

It also wants permission to include music and dancing in the hotel, which is currently not part of its entertainment licence.

Peter Campion, of Castle Hill, Bassenthwaite, said: “I can quite understand the owners of the Castle Inn wish to maximise their income and I want a profitable and well run business providing employment and good facilities for the local community as well as visitors to the Lake District.

“My concern is that by encouraging people to come just for the evening by making alcohol the main attraction rather than the whole hospitality package, less desirable behaviour will result.

“Noise, squabbling and mess in a quiet rural area would be in no-one’s interest.”