Published at 16:42, Monday, 10 December 2012

FEARS over the future of Ulverston’s newest bar have been put to bed after it was granted a premises licence — despite neighbours’ objections.

By Paul Berentzen

Bar 6, in Daltongate, has operated under a temporary events licence for the past three weekends but South Lakeland District Council’s licensing sub-committee granted an application for a permanent licence on Friday.

First-time licensee Andy Steele said the decision was a weight off his shoulders after he had spent time and money refurbishing the building, only to be met with resistance from other local publicans.

However, he dismissed their concerns, saying the only objection he sympathised with was from next door neighbour Anne Baines.

He said: “The other objections, I think, were because we will be in competition.”

And responding to comments made outside the meeting about his suitability to run a bar, Mr Steele said: “Everybody in the country has a past.

“If people want to talk about my past they can, but I am a business man — it is about how you move on in the future.”

During Friday’s meeting, Mr Steele vowed to actively manage any disturbances that may be caused to Miss Baines by customers smoking in front of her house.

However, Miss Baines was strongly opposed to the licence application, saying she had witnessed a fight outside her property and overheard people threatening to blow smoke through her letterbox in the few days the bar has been open.

She said: “I have nothing against Mr Steele but my quality of life is nil if this opens.”

Because of Bar 6’s lack of space for people to smoke, they are forced to stand on the narrow pavement in front of the building.

Miss Baines said in the past many of them leant on her windowsill, talking so loud she could not hear her television.

She added that she has had to repaint her windowsill several times due to people using it to stub out their cigarettes.

Roger Chattaway and Dave Hillman, who run the Farmers Arms and Hope and Anchor pubs respectively, both objected to the application on the grounds of public nuisance, primarily caused by people smoking at the front of the pub.

Committee chairman councillor James Airey said members had concerns for nearby residents and told Mr Steele he had a responsibility to manage the premises properly.

But he added none of the relevant authorities had objected to the plans and wished Mr Steele well in his business.

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