A Balsall Common pub is waiting to hear if the council will agree to vary its licence so that it can use an outside bar area. 

The Brickmakers Arms in Station Road has a licence to serve alcohol between 9am and midnight Monday to Friday; 9am to 12.30am Saturday and Sunday, and has now applied to have include the outside bar in the same permission.

The bar is already built and was used in the summer to screen sporting events on a large television screen – which is also understood to now need permission from Solihull planners.

The pub's application is going before Solihull Council's licensing act panel's next meeting for a final decision. 

During the consultation process eight objections were made, five from residents living near the watering hole and three from local councillors. 

In her objection Cllr Heather Delaney said: "Over the last few months (the outside screen was used) we have had many complaints from residents with regards to noise, antisocial behaviour, parking issues and drug taking. 

"I believe an outdoor bar would exacerbate these issues."

Fellow Meriden councillor Andrew Burrow wrote: "There is considerable anti-social behaviour – I have smelt a strong smell of cannabis around the pub on two occasions; people being rowdy when leaving; people being noisy in the pub garden, shouting and cheering – adjacent to residents' properties."

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Resident Simon Standley added: "Since the recent (unauthorised) addition of a screen and other amendments to the beer garden, there have been numerous events where the capacity of the pub has been significantly over extended, leading to a huge number of people causing disturbance to the neighbourhood. 

"There has been a huge increase in excessive and inconsiderate parking on Station Road, Sunnyside lane and others.

"Pub customers have been witnessed by residents (and evidenced) urinating in Station Road hedges and gardens."

Resident Julian Henwood said: "My fear is the current landlord is gradually transforming the Brickmakers Arms from a traditional village pub with lots of historic character and a mixed clientele of families and single people (and younger and older people) into a city-centre style sports bar."

Officers in their report to the panel say the applicants have agreed to implement additional conditions following communication with West Midlands Police and Solihull Council's environmental health team. 

The conditions agreed include closing the outside bar at 10pm.

The panel's meeting was set to take place at the Civic Suite on Monday, (September 9).

(Header image by Richard Law via geograph.org.uk)

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