A LANDLORD has declared “enough is enough” after claiming his pub has become the subject of a “witch hunt” by neighbours and council bosses.

Richard Carr has run the Half Butt Inn, in Great Horkesley, for two years and claims the business has been picked on for most of that time.

In the latest tiff between the council and Mr Carr, he was served a noise abatement notice shortly before 10pm on Saturday, as live act Cushti took the stage during a Bank Holiday event.

The order means if Mr Carr holds another outdoor event with either live or recorded music he risks breaching it and being liable to pay a fine of up to £20,000.

Council officials also appear to warn they might launch a review of Mr Carr’s licence.

But the landlord says he can no longer run the pub and will be leaving in February.

He said: “Enough is enough. It’s time to go.

“It’s just like banging a head against a a brick wall.

“You’re working 24 hours a day, seven days a week to make a living and there’s just always someone there to give you grief, whether it’s the residents or the council - it’s a witch hunt.”

The latest disagreement comes after the pub was ordered to pay thousands of pounds to move a £20,000 children’s play area, which residents claimed allowed children using it to spy into their back gardens.

Mr Carr added: “It’s well beyond a joke by now. We’ll be off on February 20.”

On the most recent problem, he added: “It was the Saturday of a Bank Holiday and we had music in the garden, which we have a licence for.

“It was going to end at 10.30pm and we get these two guys turning up at about 9.50pm.

“I knew there would be complaints so I was actually ready for them. I took them out to the garden, showed them what was going on.

“I could understand it if there were people effing and blinding, shouting or fighting but there were families listening to music.”

Noise abatement orders are used to deal with complaints on sound in pubs and nightclubs, noisy neighbours and even barking dogs.

A letter sent to Mr Carr by Colchester Council said: “Your business has failed to demonstrate that it is using the best practical means to minimise the noise problem. Therefore, I have no alternative but to serve a noise abatement notice.”

It adds: “You should also be aware that we are considering applying for a review of your premises licence and have also notified the licensing department in order for them to investigate any breaches.”

A Colchester Council spokesman said the council received 15 complaints on Saturday, from residents living up to two streets away, about loud music being played late into the evening. 

They said: "Environmental Protection Officers investigated in person and advised Mr Carr to reduce the level of noise, but this request went unheeded. 

“Rather than issue a noise abatement notice at the scene, officers withdrew to avoid fuelling a heated situation, and issued a noise abatement notice on Tuesday instead.

“Saturday’s incident followed similar complaints received last May, which resulted in Environmental Protection issuing Mr Carr with a warning.

“Nuisance noise is not only anti-social, it can adversely affect the lives of local residents. While we always act on complaints and endeavour to find ways to resolve the problem to everyone’s satisfaction, it sometimes becomes necessary, as part of the council’s statutory duties, to apply the law and serve a noise abatement notice to prevent a recurrence of the problem, and if necessary to review the terms of an existing licence.”