A BAND of angry residents is fighting a hotel's plans to extend its opening hours and range of entertainment under new licensing laws. The Alton House Hotel, in Normandy Street, Alton, wants to be able to offer plays, films, live music - both indoor and outdoor - dance performances and discos up until midnight from Monday to Sunday. And it also plans to extend its existing hours for selling alcohol, food and playing recorded music to midnight from Monday to Sunday. But 17 residents of neighbouring York Mews fear the changes will lead to increased noise, traffic and parking problems. They are urging East Hampshire District Council's licensing committee to refuse the application when they meet today (Friday). In a letter to the council, one resident said: "Myself and many of my fellow owners, some of whom are quite elderly, all live at York Mews for the peace and quiet of the location. Because it is off any main roads, we are not troubled with traffic noise or people noise. "We already have to put up with the din from rowdy parties at The Alton House Hotel most summer evenings. It is a time of year when the weather is usually warm and it is not possible to have the windows open because of the noise. As a shift worker who often works weekends, I can tell you it is no joke." Another said: "Over many years I have been troubled by too much noise coming from the hotel especially during the summer months when all the windows are open to gain air during various functions. "The noise does not only come from inside the hotel, but most worryingly from outside where drunken or over-lively visitors party in the grounds. "I have experienced people using the swimming pool in the very early hours of the morning and the screaming and unacceptable language coming from the grounds is very disturbing. "Also, on many occasions customers have used the area around the pool for sexual activities and getting any sleep is impossible. Therefore any addition to the noise level we have to tolerate at present would be unacceptable." Another said: "I am writing to express my opposition to the granting of this licence in view of the excessive noise which will doubtless ensue. "I am by no means a killjoy, but this is a peaceful situation. Over the past few years there have been many complaints about the noise emanating from the hotel, generally in the late evenings, and only the intervention of the Department of the Environment resulted in a great deal of improvement." The 39-bedroom hotel, which boasts an outdoor swimming pool and two tennis courts, has said any outdoor music or entertainment will finish before 8 pm and there will be a maximum of 10 events per year finishing after 6 pm. Only non-amplified entertainment will be permitted outdoors. The hotel has assured residents, and the council, that measures will be introduced to ensure the prevention of crime and disorder and public nuisance. In its application to the council's licensing team, it said it would only run events where guests ate a substantial meal and would not promote binge drinking. It would also provide sufficient seating for all guests and would work with the police to reduce crime and disorder. To counter public nuisance, the hotel plans to reduce the volume and tempo of music towards the end of the evening and close windows, doors and curtains in the function area after 10 pm. It already has a noise limiter fitted. At the end of the evening, guests will be asked to leave quietly and there will be "adequate" staff supervision for departing guests. The bar will close 15 minutes before the end of the permitted licensing hours. Waste, including glass bottles, will not be taken outside late in the evening and all contractors and entertainers arriving or leaving in the early morning or late at night will be asked to do so as quietly as possible. There will be no early morning deliveries that could cause a noise nuisance. Other measures will include regularly training staff on the law and practice relating to age- restricted alcohol sales and refusing entry to children at events where adult entertainment might take place.
