A GREAT Harwood pub could be at risk of losing its licence due to concerns over the levels of noise it produces.

The Walmesley Arms, a popular pub located on Queen Street, is under review by Hyndburn Council after a complaint was lodged over the amount of noise which comes from inside the premiss late at night.

Since the complaint was received by the council a number of unannounced visits have been made by licensing officers who have created a log of their visits.

Paul Thwaites, an Environmental Control Officer who conducted some of the checks, said: "In May a complaint was received from a member of the public regarding loud music regularly being played."

Since then a number of unannounced checks have been made by Mr Thwaites and other recording officers who say excessively loud noise has been heard coming from the pub.

He said: "On September 8 at 1.48pm I could hear a loud thumping base from excessively loud music at the pub, which became louder as people entered and left the venue.

He continued: "On September 21 a visit was made after a call was received by the Pennine Lancashire Night Time Noise Service, so a visiting officer arrived at the pub."

Live music was being played at the time and the visiting officer said: "The sound of a band was extremely loud, and not just in the complainants premises and the surrounding neighbourhood. "

Mr Thwaites continued: "On September 12 an abatement notice in respect of excessively loud music was served on the business supervisor and it was signed and accepted on delivery."

The pub was forced to go before the licensing committee several times under its previous owners for complaints including anti-social behaviour, drug issues and fighting, but since new owners Patrick and Dawn Brizio came onboard, the venue has 'really turned around'.

Speaking about the noise issue, Mr Brizio said: "We've taken a pub that was on its knees and tried to make it more of a family friendly environment.

"The whole community have shown they appreciate what we are doing and its just a couple of individuals who seem to have issues.

"But we will continue to try our best to keep the noise down and make sure everyone is kept happy. We were due to have a band outdoors this weekend but they will now be playing indoors as we are concious that some aren't happy.

"If they had come to speak to us about it we would not have have been a problem to turn the music down, but unfortunately they've felt the need to go to the council."

In a post shared on Facebook a thread of over 40 comments which all speak in favour of the pub, has responded to the news.

Sam Oliver said: "Paddy and Dawn have done a fantastic job cleaning the place up and turning it into a family friendly pub. This is actually laughable. "

Amy Lewis added: "I have heard nothing but good things since the pub opened under new management."

Ward Councillor Noordad Aziz added that he would be doing all he could to make sure the pub and residents are happy.

He said: "This business has made a lot of changes in recent times and we need to try and make sure there aren't more closures in the area.

"I will be speaking to everyone involved to make sure we sort these issues out."

A public notice now available to read outside of the pub states that any person who wishes to make a representation in respect of an application to review the license at the Walmsley Arms must do so before November 15.