Lighters-up must pipe down
THE number of complaints about noise outside pubs and restaurants has risen since the smoking ban came into force.
Edinburgh City Council has been contacted by people living near a number of pubs, clubs and even casinos claiming they are being disturbed by rowdy groups forced to light up on pavements.
It is understood licensing officers are currently working with the premises to try and resolve the problems. Those who cannot find a solution could be reported to the licensing board.
The news comes as councils in Edinburgh and the Lothians released figures which show 49 warning letters have been sent to premises since the ban on smoking in enclosed public spaces was introduced three months ago.
These include instances of smoking reported by the public, evidence of smoking reported by inspectors, insufficient warning signs and illegal smoking shelters.
No fixed penalties have yet been issued. In a straw poll of pubs carried out by the Evening News, nine out of 12 pubs said trade had not suffered as a result of the smoking ban.
But although the majority of pubs appear not to be suffering because of the ban, residents are reporting that their peace and quiet is being disrupted.
Community councils say they have been contacted by residents kept awake by groups of smokers. Susan Wong, chairwoman of the Morningside Community Council, said several people had complained to her about two separate pubs over the noise - Morningside Glory on Comiston Road and The Waiting Room on Balcarres Street.
"There is a general noise problem for residents with smokers now outside," she said. "In some cases it is also difficult getting past people who are hanging about outside. The problem seems to be worse in the good weather because people want to have their windows open at night."
Paul Waterson of the Scottish Licensed Trade Association said they had predicted the problem with noise outside pubs once the smoking ban was brought in.
He said: "There are some problems with noise outside premises - we always said there would be.
"You can't expect 20 or 30 people standing outside pubs, especially when there is more than one licensed premises near, not to make any noise. We are trying our best to keep the problems down, but it is not always possible."
Stuart Shearer, assistant manager at The Waiting Room, told the Evening News it had not had any direct complaints but would put up a sign asking smokers to keep the noise down after 10pm.
G1 Group, owners of Morningside Glory, refused to comment.
Last month the owners of Thistle Hotel in Manor Place applied to keep an illegal smoking shelter which had angered neighbours.
Jim Ramage complained to the council that smokers came out of the bar for a cigarette and talked under the canopy until 2am.
A spokeswoman for Edinburgh City Council said: "Since the introduction of the new smoking legislation, the problem of noise associated with patrons outside a small number of licensed premises has been brought to the attention of the council. In response to this, the council's newly-appointed licensing standards officers are liaising with the relevant licensees in order to resolve this issue." In Edinburgh, almost 5000 inspections of pubs have been carried out by smoking ban enforcers and the target is to have completed 11,000 by the end of the year.
A spokeswoman for West Lothian Council said: "We have issued four warning letters - one for smoking and three for non-compliant smoking shelters."
Midlothian Council said they had issued 12 warning letters to local businesses in relation to inadequate signage.
East Lothian Council has issued no warning letters.
