A PUB landlord has won a victory to get his licensing hours extended - despite protests from residents.

Anthony Grint, licensee of The Mallard, in Church Street, Ilkley, was granted permission to open his premises later on Sundays by Bingley Magistrates Court.

He will now be able to open until 2am on Sundays before Bank Holiday Mondays, except Easter Sunday, and until 12.30am every other Sunday.

The pub already has a special license permitting it to open until 1am Wednesday to Saturday.

Residents had submitted letters of complaint about the request claiming that they were constantly affected by noise made by revellers and had had broken glass bottles thrown in their gardens.

Speaking on behalf of the residents, Alan Cawthra, of Bridge Lane, Ilkley, said: "I am fed up of having to clean urine off my door all the time, finding vandalism and being kept awake by people shouting. Enough is enough.

"If the hours are extended our misery will be prolonged until 3am. It will be unbearable for residents. We feel the people causing this are coming from The Mallard."

The hearing, which took place last Thursday, saw Mr Grint call a statistician, who had recorded which way patrons of The Mallard went after leaving the premises.

By using a push-button device, doormen at The Mallard had recorded the number of people entering the pub over three nights and monitored which way they turned when leaving the pub.

The statistician, Richard Naylor, surmised that 95 per cent of customers turned left after leaving the pub, therefore away from the residents and into the town centre.

He said: "I have collaborated statistics in respect of where customers go when they leave the premises. I have used figures from over the three nights of April 17, 19 and 20. There were 720 people recorded and 95 per cent of which certainly turned left. Usually when drawing up statistics we use 150 to 200 people so this was a large number."

Mr Cawthra disputed the fact they could have turned left out of the pub and then turned left again into Castle Yard which comes out on to Bridge Lane.

Mr Grint, who has been the landlord at The Mallard for ten years, said: "I have had two complaints regarding noise - one last September and one last Bank holiday weekend.

"The noise related to the music system and a council environmental team visited me. She said she was pleased at what I had done and no further action was taken.

"We have stopped using the big speakers and the main amp and we have put triple glazing on the windows to alleviate any noise coming from the premises.

"I visited the police on April 15 to see if they had received complaints about the pub pending the application hearing. They said they had no complaints or reports of any incidents in or around the Bridge Lane area.

"I was surprised at the objections because I have had a special licence for a year and there were no objections to the original one or when it was renewed in February.

"The issue of glass bottles being broken coming from my premises cannot be, because no-one is allowed to take pints or bottles out of the pub."

Mr Grint told the court how he wrote to residents after a complaint about noise last year and said he was willing to discuss any problems. He also had a sign on his door asking patrons to be considerate to residents when they left.

Before the magistrates retired, Mr Grint offered a compromise of extending the pub's Sunday hours to 12am rather than 12.30am.

This was not necessary as the magistrates granted the original full licensing hours applied for.

In conclusion the Chairman of the Licensing Committee, Donald Appleyard said: "It has taken us considerable time to agree and decide because it affects so many people.

"Positive evidence is difficult to gather in this matter in an area containing numerous licensed premises distanced to some degree near each other. The deciding factor was who is responsible and would granting the terms exacerbate the situation.

"We feel that good noise control, a tight door security in and out and responsible licensing controls are essential and on that assumption we grant the original application."

Mr Cawthra added: "I cannot believe this finding - even the applicant did not expect to get it. The question of 100 per cent identity of the source of the disturbance cannot be given but we strongly believe it is the probability for most of the noise.

"It is a terrible noise for all the residents and gives carte blanche to any aspect of anti-social behaviour at all hours on the night."

Mr Grint said: "I am very pleased that the magistrate listened to both sides of the story. I am willing to work closely with the residents in any concerns that they may have. I am always available for comment with them.

"It is great news for my customers, I would like to thank all the people who have helped me with this application and the advice that they have given me."

l The Crescent Hotel has also applied to extend its hours, and the hearing has been adjourned by Bingley Magistrates until a later date.