Pub owner’s promise after court victory

May 8 2008 by Liam Murphy, Liverpool Daily Post

THE owners of a pub based in a Wirral conservation area have pledged to maintain their “exem-plary record” after winning a high court case against local residents.

Lancashire-based family brewer Daniel Thwaites last night welcomed a High Court decision over the licen-sing application for the Saughall Hotel, in Saughall Massie.

But Thwaites retail director Paul Howarth described the victory as a “hollow” one, and wants to prove to residents that their fears over the hours granted are unfounded. The Saughall Massie Village Conserva-tion Society had contested the trad-ing hours granted to the business at Wirral Magistrates Court.

The pub was granted a licence by Wirral Council to remain open until 1am on Friday and Saturday. Follow-ing an appeal to magistrates by the Conservation Society, this was cut to midnight, but the latest decision by the High Court has reversed the limit imposed by magistrates.

Local solicitor and independent councillor David Kirwan feared the High Court decision had “disem-powered” local residents in future cases and warned: “Pubs will now seek to extend opening hours willy-nilly and there will be little or no sanctions upon them.”

Cllr Kirwan said Lady Justice Black’s judgment “snatched away” powers given under the controversial 2003 licensing act which liberalised the laws for pubs and said residents had been shocked at the decision.

He added: “They are entitled to be proud of this conservation village, which is idyllic. They have nothing against the pub – but they do not want be disturbed after midnight.”

Last night, Chris Hill, chairman of the Saughall Massie Village Conser-vation Society, would only read out a prepared statement in which he said their members were “disappointed” at the decision.

Mr Howarth said: “At Daniel Thwaites, we are proud of our reputation as a responsible operator, and we are determined to show the residents around the Saughall that we will maintain our exemplary record in the area.”

liammurphy