FEARS a new pub in Rickmansworth would attract yobs and underage drinkers were tackled head-on by pub chain J.D. Wetherspoon at a public meeting on Wednesday.

The meeting at Watersmeet Theatre was organised in a bid to ease residents' fears about a new High Street pub.

In October, the Watford-based pub chain, which specialises in traditional, no music pubs, was granted permission at appeal to convert a disused stationery shop, formerly owned by Tames Stationers, into a pub.

But residents campaigned against the decision, saying there were too many licensed premises in the town and a supermarket was needed.

At the well-attended public meeting, Wetherspoon's Ms Clare Yandell assured residents staff would not let in any underage drinkers and there would not be any on-street drinking.

She said research showed noise pollution and traffic would be minimal and CCTV cameras installed in the building would monitor customers' behaviour. If it was deemed necessary by licensing justices, bouncers would be posted inside the pub entrance, she said.

But Mr Tony Berry, of Rickmansworth and District Residents Association, said: "If you live up to what you say then hopefully it will be a well-managed pub with well-behaved customers but we oppose the application. We think we have enough pubs in the town."

Chairman of Rickmansworth Chamber of Business Mr Mike Purdy said he was concerned about where deliveries would be made. He was told the pub would use a designated parking bay.

Ms Naomi Scott, who lives in Rickmansworth and works in The Hogshead pub in the High Street, said she felt elderly people waiting for buses outside the pub would be intimidated by boisterous drinkers, particularly on busy Saturday afternoons.

The meeting came a month before the company, which intends to invest £900,000 in the conversion, applies to the courts for a licence to trade in the High Street.

The final decision rests with the licensing committee, which meets at Watford Magistrates Court on February 25.

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