THE manager of a Bridgwater social venue says “common sense prevailed” after no restrictions were imposed on its premises licence.

Sedgemoor District Council's licensing panel decided on Thursday at Bridgwater Town Hall there would be no further action taken on the licence following a complaint about the hall's noise levels.

Blake Hall supporters packed into the building to hear Mark Duval, who runs the St Saviours Road venue, defend the complaint made against him by Brian Parker, the owner of the nearby Admirals Rest guesthouse.

During the meeting, Mr Parker, who attended with his wife Susan, said there had been eight occasions of “extreme loud noise” since April and guests had been complaining about the noise omitted from the venue.

Mr Duval told the meeting: “I think it's laughable that this gentleman is complaining that ballroom and sequence dancing music is too loud.

“We would not be able to have it that loud because of the elderly people attending to the club. They range from 60 to 90 year olds.”

Cllr Nobby Turner, the meeting's chairman, said the panel would take no further action but hoped Mr Duval and Mr Parker can work together in the future.

Following the meeting, Mr Duval told the Mercury: “I would like to thank all the people who turned up to support my wife and I and hopefully this will put an end to the matter with Mr Parker.”

Tom Bell, who uses the hall, said: “It was a great decision but it never should have got here in the first place. It's the right decision for Bridgwater.”