This Is North Devon
07:00 - 28-August-2008
NEIGHBOURS living near a Combe Martin pub have compiled a dossier of complaints about the behaviour of its customers.
The Combe Martin High Cross Residents' Association blames Ye Olde George and Dragon in Castle Street for a catalogue of anti-social activities.
It has asked North Devon Council to review the pub's licence.
In evidence to the council's licensing sub-committee, which meets next week, the association has submitted residents' diaries, video footage and audio tape.
But the council has also received more than 50 letters from other residents who say they are happy with the way the pub — known locally as the "Bottom George" — is being run.
In the application to review the pub's licence, residents' association chairman Trevor Dunkerley says drunk customers leave the pub and commit criminal damage to property and vehicles.
He says they also fight, shout, scream and swear late into the night.
In the nuisance diaries sent in by residents they complain of noisy shouting, loud music, vandalism and vomiting.
In his own diary Mr Dunkerley writes of being woken from sleep at 1.30am by shouting, swearing and singing from the pub garden.
When he called the police he says he was told: "Go back to bed."
Another resident claimed that underage children fall out of the pub drunk on many occasions.
But the pub is defended by 56 people who have sent letters to the council.
They say the pub is well-run and praise landlord Graham Moger for the way he deals with any trouble.
The landlord is also praised for supporting local charities and for offering a warm welcome to customers.
One supporter suggests that the residents' association, which has 60 members, is really concerned about house prices in the area.
He writes: "Who do these people (the association) think they are? Our parish council and police are the people to deal with local complaints. If they have success this time what is their next target — the church bells? The local cockerel? Motorbikes?"
Police have made no representations on the application, which will be considered by councillors at 10.15am on Thursday .