A BID to reopen a ‘horrendous’ Mossley pub that saw its licence revoked after serious breaches of Covid-19 restrictions has been rejected.
David Fisher, who lives on Carrhill Road, applied to Tameside Council to be granted permission to take charge of The Billy Goat, which it had ordered to be closed.
However, the authority’s speakers’ panel (Liquor Licensing) committee told him he will not be able to take control of the Stamford Street venue.
Residents living nearby voiced their opposition to the plans at a meeting of the committee on April 6.
It heard former licence holder Victor Bowers and designated premises supervisor Kathleen O’Neill were told it would be revoked after it was found customers were being served when it was supposed to have been closed and he withdrew plans to appeal on December 14.
Mr Fisher said he would run ‘a public house serving a range of drinks and snacks’ with a desire to have off sales and opening hours from noon until midnight.
In his application, he added: “Live music will be played every Wednesday and Sunday then on a monthly basis alternating Fridays and Saturdays.
“In the summer, it would be an option to have acoustic performances outside in the beer garden area.”
He also promised anyone under the age of 18 will be out of the premises by 8pm.
At the meeting, the 36-year-old, who previously worked there, added: “Victor Bowers and Kathleen O’Neill are in no way connected with this application.
“I was initially under the impression I could sub-let the remainder of the lease but this was false.
“I believe the opening hours put forward would provide a safe, more regulated environment for customers and nearby residents.
“Given the pub’s reputation, it’s a very difficult pub to run but it has brilliant potential to be a family-friendly community-serving pub.”
However, Tameside Council expressed concerns and residents told of their worries.
Head of licensing Michael Robinson said: “We received information that indicates there is a family connection between the applicant and the former licence holder.”
The Billy Goat, owned by Christine Johnson of Barkwell Lane, Mossley, will now remain closed.
Mr Robinson added: “She confirmed Victor Bowers is the current leaseholder and she and her family also confirmed they have received no approach from Mr Fisher to transfer the lease into his name.”
Residents, who did not wish to be named, expressed their dismay over the application.
One said: “We’ve suffered a great deal in the past from the pub.
“We’re desperate to not go back to how it was before lockdown, it was horrendous.”
Another commented: “I’ve lived in the area for a long time and the pub deteriorated.
“We have had a really difficult relationship with the pub for a long time. One thing the pandemic has taught is how much sleep we lost when it was trading.”
Another, who has lived nearby for more than two years, commented: “Our sleep can be reduced to four or five hours a night. Sleep is shattered by loud voices, drunken shouts and screams.
“A lot of things would have to be put in place for this to be a decent pub.”
PC Martin Thorley, of Greater Manchester Police, also expressed concerns and revealed the dismay of The Billy Goat’s owners.
In a report, he said: “If the new applicant is not connected with the holder of the revoked premises licence, I would question why the applicant has submitted a new premises licence application for this premise whilst Victor Bowers still holds the lease for the premises and still resides at The Billy Goat.
“The permitting of off sales from noon until midnight would undoubtedly increase the likelihood of the premises failing to promote the licensing objectives, in particular crime and disorder in the future.
“On February 24, I spoke with different members of the Johnson family. It was confirmed that Victor Bowers is midway through a long-term lease at the premises.
“It was also disclosed that the family were disappointed to hear about the illegal activities at the pub and the revocation of the premises licence which followed via media coverage.
“Mr Bowers confirmed that he knows of David Fisher and his intention to run The Billy Goat moving forward.”
Mr Fisher, who insisted he was just an acquaintance of Mr Bowers, contended at the meeting he had been told the lease would be ripped up.
But Tameside Council’s regulatory compliance manager Rebecca Birch described interest in having acoustic performances outside as, ‘a concern due to the history of noise complaints from local residents and may pose a potential risk for an increase in public nuisance.’
After about 30 minutes of consideration and deliberation, the speakers’ panel decided to refuse Mr Fisher’s application.
Chair Cllr Dave Sweeton said: “Local residents report there have been problems with the premises for some years, including general anti-social behaviour, loud music and noise and that is often late at night.
“The panel is satisfied there has been a significant impact arising from poor management over a number of years.
“There is no satisfactory evidence the applicant will have the right to occupy the premises for business purposes going forward.
“There’s a lack of specific and convincing detail regarding how the refocusing of the premises will be achieved.
“We feel the application in this instance is premature. We have real concerns at the adverse impact these premises have had on the local community and then breach of Covid-19 lockdown restrictions.
“On balance, we conclude conditions and other restrictions wouldn’t be sufficient. This is not a slight on the applicant, it’s a premature application. We need a lot more convincing.”