Residents wants local pub to switch off loud music
WITKOPPEN – The pub director dismissed all the accusations levelled against the pub and described them as malicious and defaming.
Residents from Witkoppen Ext complained about the alleged unbearable noise emanating from the newly established pub.
According to some of the residents, the noise was making their nights miserable with loud music playing every single night.
Chantal Lawson, whose house is a few metres away from Lapa Pub on Uranium Road, said, “The noise from the pub is unbearable. We’ve had a series of meetings with the owners in order to find solutions to the problem. Our kids are unable to do their schoolwork and prepare for exams at night because of loud, live-band music playing at the pub every day.”
Peter Clark, whose house is adjacent to the pub, said, “I reported this matter to councillor David Foley and to the Department of Environmental Health. Officials came and told them to do something to minimise the noise but it looks our efforts fell on deaf ears.”
Foley added, “I have had the City of Joburg Region A environmental Health Department on this issue. Affidavits were completed and noise inspectors have been on-site many times. Whenever I receive further complaints, I send them to Region A to ensure that they are aware and ensure that residents’ complaints are dealt with.”
Communications officer at the City of Johannesburg, Nkosinathi Nkabinde said, “The City’s Environmental Health directorate received complaints from residents on 31 October 2021, about noise emanating from the Lapa Pub. The residents were requested to submit affidavits in this regard in order for this department to serve notice in terms of the Gauteng Noise Control Regulations, 1999, and to investigate the matter further.”
Lapa Pub director Nicky Larsen dismissed all the accusations levelled against the pub and described them as malicious and defaming.
“We’ve done all that the Department of Environmental Health officials have told us to do. We removed the jukebox and sound speakers as advised. We don’t host any live music bands on-site anymore. We have installed soundproofing and blinds in order to comply with the department’s requirements.”
Larsen said some residents have developed a tendency of blaming them. “We are blamed for everything happening in the centre. Our business adheres to the curfew and to its licence requirements. We are not responsible for things that happen around the centre.”
