OMBERSLEY residents who objected to longer opening hours at a nearby hotel - fearing added noise and nuisance - sat around the table with the owner and thrashed out their differences.

With the help of Wychavon District Council Licensing Unit, objectors met Richard Everton, proprietor of the Crown and Sandys Arms, and reached an agreement on new licensing hours and conditions. The hotel had wanted to serve drinks and have entertainment until 2am and serve hot food from 11pm to 3am on Friday and Saturday nights.

But five objectors claimed it would produce extra noise and disturbances - particularly car doors slamming, engines revving and people shouting their goodnights when customers left in the early hours. Some of the nearby houses are listed buildings and owners are prohibited from installing double glazing.

The hotel has now modified its application for serving drinks to 1am on a Friday and Saturday. Mr Everton has also agreed to ask customers to leave quietly and place signs about this on the hotel doors and in the car park.

The hotel windows and doors will also be closed by 11pm when there may be extra noise on the premises and finish all live music by midnight and disco music by 12.15am.

The original application was due to go before the council's licensing sub-committee tom-orrow but the agreed amendments can now be processed without a hearing.

Leader of Wychavon's Licensing Unit, Graham Simms, said it was an excellent example of all parties working out their differences.

"We would much rather use mediation than see it go to a hearing. We encourage all the parties to talk it through. In this case, we had sensible obj-ections which were resolved."

Mr Simms added: "If people are concerned about the process or particular applications affecting them, then contact us. Do not just stick in objections. We will explain how it works and it could be resolved before it goes to a hearing." For more information ring Wychavon Licensing Unit on 01386 565016 or e-mail licensing@wychavon.gov.uk