A DISGRUNTLED villager has launched a campaign to stop the landlord of his local from getting a licence.

Donald Rogers has compiled a list of issues that he says are wrong with the Carpenters Arms at Coates and has asked Fenland District Council to prevent Malcolm Carter from running it.

Although Mr Carter has run the pub for several years, the council has insisted upon him appearing before a special licensing hearing next Tuesday after discovering he had been illegally trading.

“It’s an application for a new licence,” said a council spokesman. “Malcolm Carter has never had a premises licence on those premises.

“Previously the licence was held by W. Licensing Ltd but they surrendered it in October 2009.

“Mr Carter has simply been a caretaker there. He was caught trading without a premise licence by FDC Licensing about three months ago and issued with a Section 19 closure notice.

“He is now applying for a licence.”

Although police have not opposed the license, the council has been forced to go to a committee hearing following the complaints lodged by Mr Rogers who said “many others” support him.

Mr Rogers claims there have been family arguments over the running of the pub and “sometimes of an afternoon there were babes in their baskets, but no room to put down our glasses”.

He added: “Music played in the daytime was invariably too loud. At nights we had continual music for Friday, Saturday and even sometimes on Sunday.”

Mr Rogers claimed live music “caused undesirable customers and ensured problems. “It was generally referred to as Coates Night Club”.

The hearing will be at Fenland Hall at 10.30am and it is a public meeting. Both Mr Carter and his grandson Marty Charlton are named as applicants for the licence.