A resident has successfully managed to force the council to review the licence of a social club, which they allege does not do enough to tackle anti-social behaviour and noise coming from the site.

Wolstanton Social Club on Pitgreen Lane have been forced to defend policies they have in place.

The action was started by long-time resident John Glover, who has lived on Pitgreen Lane, directly opposite the club for the past 37 years. He states there have been multiple incidents of anti-social behaviour reported to the Council from 2018 to present day.

The Licensing Sub-Committee at Newcastle Borough Council were shown CCTV evidence provided by Mr Glover which supported his claims of alleged anti-social behaviour and public nuisance. However, David Roberts, a solicitor for Knights representing the social club discovered during questioning that the CCTV was not calibrated professionally and was not attuned for noise and said the evidence was not good.

John Glover, who has lived opposite the club for 37 years, says there have been multiple incidents of anti-social behaviour (LDRS).

Since 2018, Mr Glover has submitted various complaints to both the borough council and Environmental Health. In these complaints he notes various issues which have included smoking in an enclosed area, urinating in a public place, noisy patrons leaving the premises and lingering at the entrance of the building after leaving the premises.

Speaking to the committee, John Glover said he has suffered anti-social behaviour since 2013 and claimed during 2023 there were 280 incidents. He said: "During that time, particularly about the time the licensing rules were changed I noticed a distinct increase in the amount of anti-social behaviour, rowdiness and such like and over the course of the years I've become more able to provide evidence about reports of anti-social behaviour which is evidenced in videos.

"The noise is very intrusive when people are shouting and there can be as many as 25 to 30 car doors banging between 11.30pm when they stop serving alcohol and it can take an hour for people to leave. The impact over the number of years makes you feel unsafe in your own home."

Wolstanton Social Club has existed for 104 years and in its current spot for the past 55 years. In October last year the club was slapped with a Community Protection Notice in October 2023 by the environmental health team at the borough council which has been appealed by the club.

The Licensing Sub-Committee at Newcastle Borough Council were shown CCTV evidence provided by Mr Glover (LDRS).

Solicitor David Roberts representing Wolstanton Social Club said: "It is located in a quite a built up residential area; I think if you're familiar with the property, which I'm sure you are looking at the photographs, do show quite a close proximity to other residents. But I would like you to keep that in the back of your mind a little bit as you consider the deliberations this morning because quite clearly these are claims which are subjective.

"We're not hearing any representations of noise and disturbance allegedly caused from any other residents in Pitgreen Lane. To me it strikes quite clear that when in the locality of a quite high residential space the risks of complaints are reasonably high."

He told the committee that club members have had their membership suspended as a result of infringement of the rules, such as urinating outside. He also claimed that the club had a robust dispersal policy which included members of the committee being outside when members were leaving.

As a result of complaints from neighbours the club have also reduced the number of events taking place from at least one a week to now only one a month. In the past SIA door staff were employed to try and help quell the noise outside, however, this was ineffective and costly.

After hearing all the statements, including from Staffordshire Police, the Licensing Sub-Committee will report back within five days on the outcome of the hearing and any actions it wants to take which include revocation of the licence. 

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