A DROYLSDEN pub has been given a ‘wake-up call’ after a neighbour says she was forced to take formal action.
Deborah Richardson said she had complained to management and staff at the Pig On The Wall, as well as Tameside Council, for four years – with nothing done.
Noise and light disturbance, the siting of a smoking shelter next to her fence and even claims of sexual activity in the beer garden left her at the end of her tether.
Now after asking the authority to review the licence – and being met with abuse on social media and, she claims, people driving up to her and calling her a ‘grass’ – the pub’s designated premises supervisor (DPS), Dean Booth, will be removed.
The Greenside Lane establishment will also make changes, with drinkers not being allowed outside after 9pm and the smoking area moving to its rear.
At a meeting of Tameside Council’s Speaker’s Panel (Liquor Licensing) panel on Monday, August 11, Mrs Richardson, who has lived beside the pub for 29 years, said: “I’ve been publicly shamed on social media and verbally abused by intoxicated patrons knocking on my door.
“I’ve had character assassination. I’ve had people turning up in vans calling me ‘grass.’ That’s unacceptable but I’ve had no other route to go down.
“People have accessed my garden through the beer garden, lifting the fence panels and intruding.
“I’ve withstood some long-standing distractions and complaints prior to when I started to complain in 2021. I’ve tolerated years of disruption, which has impacted not only my mental health, but my family’s as well.
“Every time there’s a new licensee or a management change, the same issue occurs.
“My expectation as a neighbour of a supposed community pub is that any new licensee should approach me to find a workable long-term way forward – that’s not happened.
“Despite numerous attempts to find a solution informally, the pub’s behaviour has worsened year after year.
“I fully accept I live next door to a pub and I know times change but there’s also some responsibility. I’ve not seen meaningful change in how it operates.
“I’ve been in to speak to the current manager and wasn’t received greatly.”
Mrs Richardson called for a manager to be on site every day, as well as the relocation of the smoking shelter – which she says makes her washing smell – the removal of six tables from an area close to her, sound limiting devices and secondary glazing being installed.
She also wanted ‘sustained’ changes after owners Star Pubs and Bars, a subsidiary of Heineken UK, proposed alterations to how things will work at Pig on the Wall.
These included the banning of being allowed outside after 9pm, all doors and windows being closed whenever live or recorded music is being played and no entertainment taking place outside.
Tightening up things like incident books after licensing officers and police found failings and changing the DPS to staff member Tina Thatcher were also put forward.
Licensing officers told the hearing they found several areas of non-compliance in their checks but said while there had been progress in rectifying them, issues still exist.
PC Craig Foley, of Greater Manchester Police, spoke of his concerns at a ‘blasé’ attitude of the management team towards claims illicit tobacco was sold on the premises and concerns over knowing how to use the CCTV system.
He added: “I have little confidence in the current DPS and his management team to promote the licensing objectives.”
George Domleo, representing the pub on behalf of Starc Pubs and Bars, told the hearing: “It’s about balance, that balance is key and I don’t believe anyone wants the licence to be revoked or suspended.
“We recognise that what’s being sought by Mrs Richardson will require changes to how the pub is run.
“It would impact customers but would achieve that balance. Hopefully this puts a line in the sand and we move forward from there.
“We apologise for what’s happened to Mrs Richardson in the past. We’ve agreed a way forward.”
The panel agreed to the conditions put forward by Star Pubs and Bars and said no to a request by Tameside Council’s head if licensing Michael Robinson they be tightened to not allow drinkers in the area close to Mrs Richardson’s property at any time.