THE licence of a controversial snooker club is up for review today (Thursday) after police have expressed concerns about the number of incidents that have taken place there in recent years. Kingsleys Snooker Club in Hitchin Street, Baldock, will make its

THE licence of a controversial snooker club is up for review today (Thursday) after police have expressed concerns about the number of incidents that have taken place there in recent years.

Kingsleys Snooker Club in Hitchin Street, Baldock, will make its case to keep its licence during a meeting of North Herts District Council's licensing and appeals committee this afternoon (Thursday).

A number of Baldock residents and organisations have written to the council to oppose the licence.

Their concerns include noise disturbance, vandalism, underage drinking and drugs.

A Neighbourhood Watch co-ordinator from Park Street said: "I don't think there is a necessity to take away the licence completely but I think it needs curtailing.

"What they do behind closed doors is their business, it's when it spills out into the streets that there is a problem."

According to a police report, they received a total of 53 calls about the club between December 30, 2005 and January 1, 2007.

But Judy Brusnon, personal assistant to the club's owner Don Thomas, said: "We are just as concerned about anti-social behaviour in Baldock as everyone else.

"We feel that everyone - police, residents, etc - are up in arms against us. But we can't be held responsible for all the anti-social behaviour in Baldock.

"It's been a snooker club for 20 years and it's only in the last five years that there have been a lot of residential developments at the back of us.

"We feel aggrieved but obviously we are trying our best to comply with the conditions."

Ms Brusnon said that the club has made changes already including locking both its gates at night, putting security guards on the doors and keeping the fire doors shut to prevent noise.