AN Ilkley hotel owner has been ordered to carry out noise reduction work on the building or face court action for annoying his neighbours.

Bradford Council's licensing panel has renewed the entertainment licence of the Craiglands Hotel, in Cowpasture Road, for six months.

But hotel owner Mukesh Chawla must carry out work during that time to cut down the noise from late-night functions.

After the meeting he said he fully intended to have the work completed as part of his business expansion plan for the hotel.

Residents of the nearby Craiglands Park housing estate had complained to the council that the hotel had been used like a night club since Mr Chawla took over in November, 1999.

As well as sending a letter of objection to the panel, residents also signed a petition complaining about the noise.

The chairman of the panel, Ilkley Conservative councillor Martin Smith, told Mr Chawla that he had to insulate the building and that doors had to remain closed while entertainment took place to make sure noise levels remained low.

Air conditioning equipment had also to be installed to prevent doors or windows having to be opened, resulting in more noise.

Mr Chawla was told that all equipment had to be taken out through the fire exit at the end of the night to avoid disturbing residents.

After the panel meeting, Coun Smith told the Gazette that the council could take legal action if the work to reduce the noise levels had not been carried out by the end of July.

"He admits he could do the work and we don't want to use the big stick, but we will if we have to," said Coun Smith.

He added: "We want to encourage him to carry out the work according to the acoustic engineer's suggestions."

Coun Smith said that he had no objection to the hotel being used more frequently as an entertainment venue as long as the noise reduction work was carried out.

Mr Chawla told the Gazette after the meeting that he fully intended to carry out all the work because he wanted to live in harmony with his neighbours in Ilkley. He also expressed his intention to turn the hotel into a major national conference venue that would put Ilkley on the map.

"I want to work with the people of Ilkley - it is a wonderful town and the Craiglands Hotel has a lot of potential.

"I want to bring more economic activity to the area which is in the interest of all of us," said Mr Chawla.