The licensees of the Sands nightclub are set to appeal after they had their opening hours cut this week.

Although they renewed the Saundersfoot club's public entertainment licence (PEL), members of Pembrokeshire County Council's licensing sub-committee reduced its operating hours to 1 am.

Prior to Monday's meeting of the committee, the club's PEL operated until 1.30 am on Mondays and Thursdays and until 2 am on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays.

These hours had been granted in July last year and the licensees, Kathleen Waters and Ann Jones, were seeking a renewal of the licence.

The committee heard that the county council's commercial pollution team had monitored the Milford Terrace nightclub on three occasions in August and September last year following complaints about noise and disturbance caused by people leaving the premises.

They put forward a series of proposals which they felt could help alleviate the problem.

There were also letters of objection from Saundersfoot Community Council, the Jalna and Cambrian Hotels and The Lanterns Guest House.

The police also submitted a report detailing 38 incidents and complaints in the village during 2001 "which may or may not be connected" with the nightclub.

Representing the applicants, solicitor Mr. Peter Williams said that the club opened for four or five nights in the summer and for two nights in the winter months.

He noted the complaints made "on numerous occasions" by Mr. Mike Fry, of the Cambrian Hotel, but he felt these were "basically about noisy taxis."

He also noted that the last complaint by Mr. Fry had been in September last year.

"On September 15, Mrs. Waters asked for the taxis waiting to pick people up to wait in the car park at the rear of the premises, rather that outside the Cambrian," said Mr. Williams. "Since then there have been no further complaints."

He also commented on complaints made by Mr. Dick, of The Lanterns, pointing out that there was no record of Mr. Dick making any complaint to the police.

Mr. Williams also queried claims made by Mr. Bobby King, of the Jalna, relating to "numerous signs stolen or damaged, hanging baskets stolen or damaged, gates taken and thrown into gardens, guests being woken by people banging on ground floor bedroom windows, cans, bottles and food containers pushed through letter boxes or dumped in tubs of floors and fullscale urinating on and around the hotel."

"If even half these things occurred, why are there not more complaints to the police?" he asked.

"There is no evidence to suggest that these people come from the Sands.

"There are thousands of people in Saundersfoot in the summer, whereas the capacity of the Sands is 530. There are likely to be others on the street who have not been to the Sands in any way."

Mr. Williams noted that many of the comments by police showed how staff at the Sands assisted officers, and felt that the comments were "indicative of one of the best run nightclubs in the Pembrokeshire area."

He told the meeting that the pollution team investigations showed that there was no noise escaping from the nightclub.

"There was noise when people were leaving, but this was due to a small minority. If the police keep a high profile when people leave, the noise is very minimal."

Mr. Williams said that his clients were happy to comply with the conditions suggested by the pollution team - in fact, they already carried out four of them - although they were a little wary about a suggested CCTV system to cover Milford Terrace.

"I do not think residents would like to be scrutinised by a camera in the club," he said.

It was pointed out that Sands door staff "actively worked to stop people making a noise when leaving the club", while customers were also encouraged to use the back door to reduce disturbance in Milford Terrace.

Mr. Williams also said that the pollution team noted that a lot of traffic noise was generated by cars leaving the car park of the Cambrian Hotel.

"Perhaps Mr. Fry should look at locking his gates?" said Mr. Williams.

Mrs. Ann Jones also told the meeting that buses were now arranged to take clubbers home at the end of an evening, with drop-off points from New Hedges to Haverfordwest - although the bus was only provided on a Saturday at present.

Mr. Williams also pointed out that all staff had been fully trained, particularly in relation to "serving people who are worse for wear," but admitted it was difficult to prevent people who had drunk too much from drinking more if others bought the alcohol for them.

Inspector Ewan Davies, of Dyfed-Powys Police, told the meeting he had been involved in policing in Tenby since the mid-1980s and knew "very well what goes on at the Sands."

He confirmed that the licensees had held various meetings with all agencies and staff had undergone training sessions.

"It is a very well run premises and the licensees have always co-operated with the licensing team and police to ensure they comply with all the conditions of the various agencies," he said.

Insp. Davies added that he had written several times to the licensees to commend staff on the assistance given to police.

"It is an ideal situation required from the police at such premises," he said.

Insp. Davies added that he usually liked to have between six and eight officers on duty outside the club at closing time, but admitted that this was sometimes difficult due to other operational requirements.

Mr. Gareth Watts, principal officer in the county's public protection department, confirmed that the club was operating within legal guidelines, but that there were problems caused when people left as it was in a mixed commercial and residential area.

"A minority do cause problems, although the situation is better if there is a police presence," he said.

He referred the meeting to the six conditions suggested by his department and felt that "cutting back operating hours would not be a fair option if they were implemented."

Mr. Watts felt that "policing was critical to the amount of disturbance outside" as did Mr. Chris Richards, environmental health officer.

He agreed that the premises was well run, but felt that the licensees should be "extra sensitive to the area in which it is situated."

He considered that the small minority of people who left the premises in a "noisy or aggressive manner" accounted for "95 per cent of the disturbances," but added that if there were police outside, any potential situation was diffused very quickly.

Mr. Dick, of the Lanterns, spoke out against the application, claiming that he had guests leaving his premises after one night due to the noise caused by people leaving the nightclub.

He also questioned the record of incidents from the police, claiming there were several times he had called the police which had not been noted.

He felt that the only people in the village at 2 am in the morning would be people leaving the Sands and told of a catalogue of incidents whereby he had been woken in the early hours by people looking to buy cigarettes or asking if they could have sex with his wife.

He had even seen people having sex on the steps to the basement of his guest house and opposite on the wall of the Cambrian Hotel.

"People have said that this is what can be expected by people fuelled by alcohol," he said.

"If someone drunk came into County Hall this morning and urinated in the foyer, would it be acceptable?" he asked. "No, they would be arrested because that sort of behaviour is not acceptable. Why is it acceptable at 2 am?

"When I bought the guest house two years ago I was aware of the Sands. However, I was not aware of the problems!"

Mr. Mike Fry said that he had lived in the village for 21 years and had been complaining about the noise for all 21 years.

"This is very detrimental to my business and it is not getting any better," he claimed.

"I do not object to the nightclub, but it is very noisy when it shuts."

He said it was difficult to lock his car park as it was a private car park for his guests.

Asked what time he would like to see the club close, he admitted he did not know.

"Perhaps they should have a licence until 6 am," he said. "That way people will be leaving in smaller numbers throughout the night!

"I have no answer, but someone has to sort this problem out."

Clr. Ron Brabon appeared on behalf of the community council.

"We have no objections to the Sands, it is the noise generated when it shuts," he said.

"People are very disturbed by the noise, and a lot of them were there before the Sands first opened."

Mr. Clive Thomas, of Thomas Taxis, admitted that there were taxis parked outside the Cambrian waiting for customers, but this was because they were "hackney carriage vehicles."

"The alternative is that we drive around and around the village," he said.

"We are there not just to serve the Sands, but everyone else in the village who requires a taxi, and there is a taxi rank in Milford Terrace."

Mr. Williams noted that neither the community council nor Mr. Fry had objections to the Sands itself.

"Of course when you have 400 people coming out, there is going to be noise," he said.

"My clients are happy to go along with all the recommendations and merely ask for status quo to remain.

"If they cannot operate the hours they now have, then they cannot trade, because they will not be on equal terms with other similar premises in the county.

"There will always be objections, but I note that, unlike July, there is no petition from residents, which may suggest that the situation has improved."

After deliberating for nearly 45 minutes, chairman Clr. Don Evans revealed that the committee had agreed to renew the licence, but to cut back its opening hours to 1 am.

While they accepted that the premises was well run, they felt that, bearing in mind the objectors and the list of police incidents, the licensees had to show due regard to the area in which the club was situated

They felt that the use of a licence until 1.30 or 2 am resulted in "unacceptable levels of nuisance in a residential area."

Speaking to the Observer following the meeting, Mrs. Jones said she was "disappointed" with the decision and would be appealing.

Pending the outcome of any appeal, the club will be able to continue opening under the terms of its original PEL.