A COUNCIL meeting descended into a war of words yesterday as a Weymouth pub landlord and one of its neighbours went head-to-head over a noise complaint about live music.

As reported, Respect Weymouth has applied for a review of town centre pub the Duke of Cornwall's licence with a view to having new conditions imposed to restrict noise levels, claiming 12 properties are suffering from excessive sound levels.

A licensing sub committee meeting heard how noise monitoring equipment had been set up at the complainants' property by Dorset Council's Environmental Health team - but that there is no legal limit for live music sound levels.

The Environmental Health team recommended a long list of new conditions including a sound limit of 55 decibels from outside the venue, and a requirement that the pub employs door staff.

But Duke of Cornwall landlord Martin Freed said they cannot afford door staff and that the conditions would effectively force them to close. He also claimed the pub has been unfairly singled out due to tensions between themselves and the anonymous neighbour - accusing Dorset Council of publishing defamatory accusations made by Respect Weymouth.

Notices displayed by Dorset Council in the pub window include mention of 'protection of children from harm' - the council says this is in relation to noise levels - however the licensing act does not specifically include noise in relation to protection of children.

During the heated meeting, Mr Freed said that this suggests he is being accused of something more sinister than just loud music.

"I believe this is slander and defamation of our character - and we have suffered immeasurably because of this - we have had the word "paedo" shouted up at our window when we were in bed," he added.

"I am astounded by the sheer amount time and effort Respect Weymouth has put into this vindictive attack.

"We have a business to run, we don't have the luxury of spare time to defend ourselves... it is an unjust waste of time and taxpayers' money."

However Environmental Health supports complaints from Respect Weymouth that noise levels within the property belonging to the complainant are too loud and constitute a public nuisance - serving a noise abatement notice on the pub in October.

The notice sets a condition against the pub's licence that noise levels must not be audible from the nearest noise sensitive property - Dorset Council is considering separate court action against the pub as it is alleged the venue has broken the conditions.

At the meeting a representative of Respect Weymouth said that noise levels from the pub are "intrusive and dominating and cannot be contained by poorly structured building," adding that the fact the council has already stated its position via the noise abatement notice means there is no requirement for Respect Weymouth to provide evidence in support of its complaint.

Evidence was not heard in public at the Dorset Council online meeting however Respect Weymouth did submit documents in support of its complaint.

The press and public were excluded from the final part of the hearing. At the time of going to print the outcome of the meeting was still being finalised.

We unable to open comments on this article. To submit a letter to the Echo's letters page click here