THE owners of a Herefordshire golf club have been denied changes to its music licence, despite claims that current conditions are putting the business at risk.

Belmont Lodge and Golf Club will not be allowed to extend the hours during which music can be played in its outdoor marquee – its main function room – following a meeting of Herefordshire Council’s licensing sub-committee held on Friday.

But general manager Christopher Smith said that the current restrictions were preventing directors’ attempts to attract new tenants to take over the site as a whole.

He added that the business could not survive solely on the income generated by golfers using its 18-hole course.

“The mix of our business is very dependent on having functions,” he said.

Members did approve the removal of conditions that included the prohibition of karaoke in the outdoor area.

But the committee refused to let amplified live music to go on until 1am from Monday to Saturday and until midnight on a Sunday in the marquee.

Mr Smith said the application could have been changed to playing the music until midnight on Monday to Saturday, but this was also refused by committee members.

The current licence was imposed last September and allows amplified live music in the marquee up until 6.30pm Monday to Saturday and unamplified until midnight Monday to Sunday.

Committee chairman Brigadier Peter Jones said members felt that the licence had not been in place long enough to properly gauge the effect it was having on surrounding residents.

The decision was taken after Breinton residents complained of late-night problems caused by noise and an objection from environmental health officers on the same grounds.

Resident Liz Morawiecki said it affected her children, especially during the week, while parish clerk Nikky Eyles said the general view was that the noise should be kept to the main building only.

Brigadier Jones said: “The sub-committee is particularly keen that the testing of this licence should take place before any variation is considered.”