Controversial applications for variations to licences at three public houses in Narberth are set to be determined next week. Members of Pembrokeshire County Council's licensing sub-committee will consider the proposals for the Eagle Inn, 7 Water Street, Dragon Inn, 5 Water Street, and the Farmers Arms, 1 Northfield Road. The applications for all three are to enable Celtic Inns Ltd. to supply alcohol from 9 am to 2 am seven days a week, and also for the premises to be open until 2.30 am each day. The company is also applying for live music from 9 am until midnight, recorded music from 9 am until 1 am, and to sell hot food from 11 pm until 2.30 am. The are also seeking to supply alcohol on Bank Holiday weekends from 9 am until 3 am and for the whole of Christmas week, from 9 am until 3 am, including Christmas Day. On certain Saints Days, they are also looking to be licensed from 9 am until 3 am. Said Dyfed Powys Police licensing officer, Tony Jones, in a letter of objection to the applications: "It therefore follows that these premises are changing out of all recognition, taking into consideration the licensable activities applied for, from traditional public houses into small nightclubs. "It therefore follows that all three premises should have a robust operating schedule and similar conditions which already apply to nightclubs within the county." He continued: "It is obvious from the hours applied for and the licensable activities requested that if this application is granted, particularly the late hours, all three premises will have a great impact on the residents of Narberth. "It was never envisaged when this Act was created that three traditional public houses in a small country town would apply to change into three mini-nightclubs open to hours of 3 am, 3.30 am." Letters of objection have also been received by the county council from local residents and the town council, to all three applications. The town council's licensing committee believe that any licensed premises within the curtilage of Narberth should not be granted a licence to sell alcohol after the hours of 11.30 pm. "This is due to the fact that Narberth is a densely populated town, with some 300 people living in the immediate vicinity of the public houses," said town clerk, Mrs. Caroline Coaker. Mrs. Coaker also pointed out that the committee did not object to the hours being extended to 12.30 am for Bank Holidays and to 2 am for December 24 and 31. "Many residents have contacted the town council and have sent in petitions, as they are extremely concerned about these applications, as they believe the situation at present is very difficult for the police to control at night, without the application for extended opening hours," added Mrs. Coaker. "These hours may work in an inner-city environment, where there are no residents living nearby, but in Narberth, people are living close to the public houses and they do need peace and quiet for sleep at night." Also before the county council's licensing sub- committee will be a petition, signed by 14 residents of the nearby Old Keg Yard, objecting to the Eagle Inn and Dragon Inn applications. In respect of the Eagle Inn, representations have also been received from the county council's pollution control section, the health and safety section, as well as the Mid and West Wales Fire Rescue Service. The pollution control section has also objected to the Dragon Inn variation, while the pollution control section and the fire service have forwarded representations in respect of the Farmer Arms proposal.
