BOSSES of two pubs have blasted South Lakeland District Council (SLDC) after they were both warned about noise complaints.

Stuart Ward, landlord at The Miners’ Arms in Swarthmoor, and Kathy Hargreaves, landlady at The Globe in Ulverston, received letters from SLDC last week outlining that nearby residents were concerned with the noise they were creating.

After suffering during the Covid-19 pandemic, Stuart and Kathy feel they have been unfairly treated by a ‘heavy-handed’ council, but an SLDC spokesman has said they have a ‘statutory duty’ to investigate every complaint from residents.

The Miners’ Arms, which received one complaint, and The Globe, which received two, will now be monitored for the next three months, with every complainant being asked by SLDC to keep a ‘diary of occasions’ as part of its investigation, which Stuart and Kathy fear could put them out of business.

Kathy said: “We both feel that we are being victimised.

“I monitor the noise levels every time we have a band on outside, and the noise from the road is louder than the bands.

“Live music is my bread and butter, if I have to stop it, then I can truly see me going under.

“It is only rhythm and blues bands on, it’s not like I have got a disco every week.

“Rather than supporting and advising us, we were told we are upsetting residents who have having their Sunday lunch.”

As a result of the letter, Kathy said she has now cancelled outdoor gigs for her upcoming festival at the pub, Globe Fest.

Stuart added: “I think the council have been very heavy-handed off one complaint.

“You can’t win, the government says get your customers outside if you can, leave all your doors and windows open, you can use your beer gardens and your pavements.

“So, you put entertainment on for two hours, 50-odd people outside having a good time in a Covid-safe environment, then all of a sudden you get one anonymous complaint to the council and they say someone is keeping a diary for three months regarding your noise.”

In response a spokesman at SLDC said: “We have a statutory duty to investigate any complaint of noise.

“Our procedure is that, out of courtesy, we inform premises that a complaint has been received, and that the complainant or complainants have been asked to monitor the situation.

“This is what has happened in these cases and no enforcement action has been taken. We have been in contact with the premises to also discuss the situation and whether they wish to consider the complaint and their responsibilities in terms of statutory noise nuisance in the context of their proximity to people’s residences.

“Our officers are acutely aware of the pressures facing businesses in our area and are available to support and advise, but all premises have a responsibility to ensure they are not creating a statutory noise nuisance.”