The New Hedges Tavern can hold public entertainment until 1 am for up to 12 nights a year, it was agreed this week.

The licensing sub-committee of Pembrokeshire County Council heard on Monday that the New Hedges pub currently had a public entertainment licence (PEL) allowing it to remain open for music and dancing (including karaoke) from 10 am to midnight, Mondays to Fridays, and from 10 am until 11.45 pm on Saturdays.

However, Mr. Anthony Jones was seeking to vary the PEL until 1 am from Monday to Saturday and from 10 am to 12.30 am on Sundays.

Joint owner, Mrs. Ann Jones, speaking on behalf of her husband, explained that the couple wanted the PEL "solely for times when they were approached by local organisations interested in holding late night functions" at the public house.

"We would not," she stressed "be seeking to implement the licence every night of the week."

Mr. Alan Bennett, the county council's head of services, asked if Mrs. Jones would be happy if the licence was allowed for a specific number of nights a year, but Mrs. Jones said she preferred this not to be the case.

Neither the police nor the fire authority objected to the request, although there was one objection from a neighbour, Mr. David Roberts, and another from St. Mary Out Liberty Community Council.

Mr. Gareth Watts, principal officer in the county's public protection department, commented that his department had received no complaints about the operation of the premises.

Objector Mr. Roberts, of Ash Cottage, New Hedges, told the meeting that he had never made any official complaints about noise disturbance from the premises in summer months as he had always resolved the situation amicably with the owners.

However, while he accepted that Mrs. Jones had to make a living, he was concerned that if a 1 am licence was granted throughout the year, and was used more frequently, it "could become a problem."

Mr Chris Richards, environmental health officer, agreed that there had been no official complaints about noise nuisance from the New Hedges Tavern, but offered to visit as "an independent witness to suggest ways around any problems to the benefit of both of you."

A letter from the community council stated that they wished to object to the changes because they "understood there are a number of local residents who wish to object."

However, the committee heard that the community council would not be discussing the matter until their meeting on Tuesday night.

In granting the variation until 1 am for 12 occasions a year, chairman Clr. Don Evans said that the committee had taken into account the character of the area in New Hedges and Mr. Roberts's comments on noise emanating from the premises.

He added, however, that Mrs. Jones was welcome to re-apply to the committee if she wished to increase the number of occasions when 1 am opening was allowed.