A CRICKET club in Shenley was granted permission to extend its hours for live and recorded music for private events at a licensing hearing this morning.

The Shenley Cricket Centre, in Radlett Lane, holds events at the ground and asked for a variation on its existing premises license.

Following complaints from members of the public on the noise levels in 2006, licensing officers at Hertsmere Borough Council attached a condition to the ground’s licence that recorded or live music in marquees, tents or open ground was to end at 8pm, with unamplified or background music allowed to continue until 10.30pm.

The centre asked for the condition to be removed, stating that since 2006 the complaints had decreased and it had employed an acoustics officer to monitor the level of noise at functions.

Both the environmental health department and the planning authority at the council raised objections to the proposals at a hearing held at the council's civic offices today, in Borehamwood.

Gavin Burns, the council’s principal environmental health officer, said: “It would appear that the noise levels from the place is 85 decibels. Complaints are made because people can hear music at a distance of 380 metres.

“That’s in keeping with what I initially said and it’s in keeping with the history going back to 2006.

“If you set the noise limiter to 78 decibels that would probably prevent any further complaints being made.

“However, there is a problem with 78 decibels in that it is so low that live bands wouldn’t play.

“The problem remains that a marquee is made out of canvas. Unlike bricks and mortar it stops hardly any noise at all.”

Claire Eames, from solicitors firm Poppleston Allen, representing the cricket centre, said: “It’s always difficult to be in a situation like this. My client wants to work with environmental health and not against them.

“The committee needs to know what is happening at the premises now - not what happened five years ago.

“Just because a condition made would be proffered back then does not automatically mean it has to remain now.

“Since 2006, my client has gone to the expense of using an acoustic expert who has proffered advice and has come up with a suggestion that actually the noise is managed in the marquee.

“This condition is causing quite a severe restriction on the way these premises operate and while commercial viability isn’t a licensing objective in the guidance from time to time reference is made to money being spent.

“I think the freedom and flexibility which the owners of the club need is something that you can consider.”

Ms Eames added that no residents were at the hearing to complain against the proposals.

Anthony Reeder, general manager at the cricket centre, added he would make his number available to residents in case of any noise complaints in the future.

Phil Andrews, the council’s principal licensing officer, said: “I think I can safely say neither party can agree with the other at the present time in regard to certainly a level which would be appropriate to be set.

“I am sure Mr Reeder’s personal telephone could be made available to anybody who wishes it."

Councillor Sandra Parnell, heading up the committee for the hearing, concluded: “The committee hopes that the applicant will continue to work with the committee and provide a point of contact, maybe a mobile phone or email to both the licensing authority and the concerned members of the public.”

The centre will now be allowed to play live music between Friday and Sunday until midnight.