LAUNCESTON Town Council has resolved to write to the county council’s licensing team about its ‘concerns surrounding issues with the White Hart and town centre’.

At the town council meeting last Tuesday, September 18, the chair of the local Pubwatch scheme, Jennifer Falkenstein, of the Newmarket Inn, claimed ‘much trouble’ has come to the town square since the White Hart recently re-opened with a 2am license.

However, the White Hart’s manager Rachael Slater, who was also at the town council meeting and spoke in the public participation session, hit back, saying: “None of the other venues have come to us to say this is an issue.”

Ms Falkenstein said: “We have some concerns of some of the activities going on in the town square of late.

“White Hart have opened up and have a two o’clock licence, out of that comes much trouble. We have got broken windows, ripped down planters, fighting, swearing all around Southgate, Exeter Street and the bottom of Race Hill.

“The Westgate had an ashtray ripped off the wall. Down by the churchyard there has been human defecation. The Launceston Arms has had their flowers tampered with and baskets ripped off.

“It’s been reported to me there have been fights in the White Hart and security is not up to scratch.”

“I’ve noticed some of our lifetime banned going into the White Hart. The charity shop opposite the Bakers Arms had their windows smashed as have Bridge Tools,” she continued, adding her pub’s windows have been ‘banged on to serve alcohol’.

“We are very concerned about the issues. We had calmed the town down and now its rife again. The police haven’t been visible for the last four years, which we appreciate because we had everything under control.

“It’s not a situation we relish. We don’t have a two o’clock licence, we have a 12 o’clock licence, we are getting woken up and our neighbours.”

Ms Slater said of the White Hart: “There’s log books, if there’s an incident we can check CCTV. We are not on Pubwatch, we feel we want to handle it ourselves.

“I’ve got meetings with the taxi firms helping us to disperse people at 2.15am. We had visits from the police Saturday night, which was absolutely fine. We have met with the police and talked about how we want to work with them.”

Ms Slater also said she had met with a security firm that day.

Mayor Cllr Margaret Young responded to Ms Falkenstein: “Whilst this town council can’t actively do anything I will draw your attention to item number 13 — CCTV operation — and that will cover some of your concerns, but I will note most definitely what you told us.”

Cllr Sam Allen, who represents Launceston Town Council on police liaison, said under item 13 that she had attended a meeting at the police station on September 5, and claimed in the early hours of September 2, ‘police were under attack outside the premises’ of the White Hart.

She added: “CCTV [volunteers] had to watch while police were surrounded by youths who we believe were drinking in the pub at the time.

“I appreciate [the White Hart] has just reopened but I feel we need to be made aware of the matter.”

She said volunteers who man the CCTV cameras ‘are looking to stay later than 2am to make sure streets are actually safe and I believe the Street Pastors are looking to do that as well, which is the first time this has had to happen’.

“There are cameras on the front and back of the hotel. They are amazing what you can see and have got infrared so can pick up at night.”

Cllr Allen proposed the town council write to the local authority licensing officer ‘to try and reduce this kind of behaviour in the town on the weekend’, adding: “This could end up giving Launceston a bad reputation.” Cllr Dave Gordon seconded the proposal.

Cllr John Conway then put forward an amendment to the proposal, that the letter requests consideration be given to restricting the White Hart licence to midnight, and that it be requested to join Pubwatch.

Cllr Conway said: “It’s appalling a place like the White Hart is not a member of Pubwatch.

“We haven’t had problems for years, now White Hart opens up, refuses to join Pubwatch, allows everybody in. We are concerned for our town at present.” Cllr Sam Allen seconded Cllr Conway’s amendment.

Cllr John Harris, who represents the town council within the Street Pastors, said: “The Street Pastors are quite concerned and they are, as Cllr Allen said, thinking about extending their hours on the beat but they are volunteers and none are overly young, so there is a concern for their safety as well.”

Cllr Rob Tremain said: “There have been lots of conversations around the town in recent weeks. I’m thrilled to bits to see White Hart reopen, we wish it well, but antisocial behaviour happening inside and outside needs to be addressed. Years ago police would have stepped in and the licence would have been revoked straight away.

“It needs to be sorted sooner rather than later.”

Both the proposal and amendment were carried, Cllr Young adding: “These proposals will be put to county council.”