A STOURBRIDGE pub which created an outdoor area for up to 30 drinkers during the Covid-19 pandemic could be forced to close it permanently.

Council officers are recommending enforcement action against The Kingsbridge Bar in Wollaston following complaints of noisy customers after it opened in September last year.

Regulars are rallying to its defence sending 70 letters of support claiming it’s a great place to visit between lockdown restrictions, is family and couples friendly and is well run.

But within days of opening, the micro bar on the junction of King Street and Bridgnorth Road was forced to close its beer garden.

At the time Dudley planning department said the pub didn’t have planning permission to extend its courtyard into an adjacent property.

After discussions it was allowed to reopen in October just days before the government closed all pubs in the second national lockdown.

Objecting to an application for backdated planning permission, neighbours say since opening they’ve suffered from noisy drinkers late at night, had to put up with inconsiderate and illegal parking while customers block access to their homes. 

Planning officers are now recommending the application is refused and enforcement action is taken to close the beer garden. 

In response, a noise impact assessment submitted by the pub says normal conversations between customers won’t affect neighbouring properties. 

But council bosses say it is based on unsuitable computer software, adding: “It is not appropriate to use when considering highly variable sound sources such as person generated noise, it does not account for peak sounds such as shouting, laughing etc. 

“Nor does it account for other characteristics such as screaming and offensive language which are likely to increase annoyance and disturbance and give rise to complaints.”

The issue will be discussed by Dudley’s development control committee on Wednesday March 10.