LOCALS will clash if a cricket club is allowed to open later and serve booze into the late hours.
The Wraysbury Cricket Club, which is nearly 100-years-old, wants to open, serve alcohol, and play recorded music until 11pm on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, midnight on Thursday and Sunday, and 1am on Friday and Saturday.
It also wants to host live music until 11pm on Wednesday to Sunday.
But since applying to extend its licence, 30 residents have lodged objections to their plans while 12 have supported it.
Some say the noise will be ‘unbearable’ if the application is approved while others believed the managers of the venue will be mindful of its neighbours.
Nearby neighbours on The Green have complained they hear “mind-numbing” music and loud noises and screaming until the early morning hours, disrupting their sleep and peace.
Objectors slammed the proposed extension as “absolutely ridiculous” and “inconsiderate” of the local residents, believing the venue is trying to be more of a pub or nightclub rather than a cricket club.
One local, who has lived in Wraysbury for 45 years, wrote: “This [the noise] would make our lives a misery. We have the right to peace and quiet in our own homes – especially after 11pm.
“In summer we want to have doors and windows open – that would be impossible if this goes ahead. We are already woken up by the planes overhead from Heathrow in the early hours of the morning.”
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Some residents said they had a “taste” of the proposed licensing hours last summer and believe if the licence is granted, the “unprecedented” noise will further disturb their lives and cause “lots of anxiety and stress”.
Another said: “The hours proposed by the club are ludicrous and the prospect of this happening is depressing.”
Wraysbury parish council even proposed amendments to the application for it to serve alcohol, play recorded and live music outdoors and indoors until 11pm Monday to Friday and until midnight on the weekend to ease concerns.
But supporters think the venue’s new management is a “breath of fresh air” for the club and Wraysbury and is a “great asset” to the village. They also think the venue will be mindful of neighbours in terms of noise.
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One resident wrote: “The cricket club has become an inclusive safe space for the whole village. I would really like to stress that all are welcome there regardless of race, religion, age, gender etc and it really is a fantastically run facility.
“The club do so much for the village and for charity and I would like to lend my wholehearted support to this application. The money that the proposed licence generates will benefit youth and ladies’ cricket aside from the other benefits to the village.”
Another supporter accused the objectors of being negative who do not like the cricket club or the sport and want to stop others from being the venue.
Councillors sitting on the licensing sub-committee will hear from both sides and will have a final say to grant or reject the application. The hearing is on Thursday, May 19.
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