A Dundee couple’s bid to turn down the volume on a neighbouring lawn bowls club has hit a dead end.
Dundee City Council’s licensing committee rejected a plea by Upper Constitution Street residents James and Rosemary Butler to review Dudhope Bowling Club’s licensing conditions.
Despite the sport being more commonly associated with the genteel clink of bowls coming together, the Butlers claim music from social functions is too loud.
Mrs Butler told councillors they had lived near the bowling club for 30 years but had only just made an official complaint because they had learned the club has a “responsibility” not to disturb neighbouring homes.
She said that the club holds social events four or five times a year that are so loud she and her family are unable to use their conservatory.
“We are making this complaint because we feel the bowling club has a responsibility to manage noise but we do not feel it has managed it effectively,” she said.
“The club has not been doing what it is supposed to do and that is why I feel there are grounds for a licence review.”
George Lyall, treasurer of the bowling club, said the club had been founded in 1876, and there had been no complaints about it or its members in that time.
He added that membership had fallen to just over 80 and that the majority were over 70 years old.
Mr Lyall said that when the club does have music at functions, such as its Christmas parties or on Burns Night, the events tend to finish early.
He said: “We have no wish to fall out with anyone in the neighbourhood during the close season we are open on Friday nights only.
“We would, at the most, have a maximum of 12 older people coming along to have a drink and shoot the breeze.”
Solicitor Janet Hood, acting on behalf of Dudhope Bowling Club, said: “The Butlers say loud music is a common occurrence.
“They claim they have made complaints to the club and that other people have complained to the club, but Mr Lyall says there have been no complaints from anybody coming to the club.
“The police say they have visited the club twice in the past year, but only because of alarm breaches.”
Mrs Hood said that it was more likely a nearby house where students lodge is responsible for the noise pollution.
Councillors voted against the licensing review, but convener Dave Bowes stated that if noise is a problem then Mrs Butler should record times and dates when it becomes a nuisance.
He said: “I would ask Mrs Butler to keep a diary and to contact the police, licensing standards officers or the club itself.
“I feel, at this moment, grounds haven’t been established for a review.”
An application lodged by the bowling club to allow an outside drinking area and to increase the number of guests members can sign in was withdrawn before last week’s committee meeting.
The council received 18 objections to the proposal, but as it was withdrawn these could not be taken into account by councillors.