Claims that a new licence for the Epworth Hall in Helston would disrupt the lives of local residents have been refuted by the chairman of the hall's management group.

The Coinagehall Street venue is currently applying for a premises licence allowing it to serve alcohol and run events such as wedding receptions, plays and films.

The licence would cover the hours from 8am to 1am seven days a week - hours criticised by one Helston businesswoman at last week's PACT (Partners and Communities Together) meeting in the town.

Julia Wren, who runs the newsagents adjacent to the hall, said: "Do we really need another place where alcohol is available down that end of the town?

"It is the hours we are objecting to. We have to get up at 5am to do the papers and don't need that sort of noise. We have enough from all the other places around and don't need that as well."

Ms Wren claimed that the notices advising members of the public about the licence application were not clearly visible to people walking past the hall.

"A lot of people coming into our shop are not aware of it and are not very happy about it," she added. "It's a chapel premises and they really don't feel there should be alcohol there to start with."

Mark Upton, chairman of the Epworth Hall management group, said the licence would mean the hall no longer had to apply for a temporary events notice in order to be able to serve interval drinks or host events such as wedding receptions.

"It is not our intention to be running it as a bar," he said. "It just gives us the opportunity to serve alcohol on those sorts of occasions. The times are just the times when the building is open - to cover all eventualities."

Mr Upton said the group had followed the advice of the Kerrier district council licensing officer when drawing up the application, and when posting the notices advising the public of the proposal.

He said the hall, although originally a chapel, was not one any more, adding: "You can serve alcohol in a church anyway."

No one had objected to the hall's previous applications for temporary notices, he added, and he was not aware of any objections to the current proposal.

*Major refurbishment at the Epworth Hall has created an impressive new auditorium and space for community activities.

The management group is now concentrating on phase two of the project, including updated toilet facilities and disabled access to the whole building, and is busy trying to secure the necessary funding.

In a bid to boost the fundraising campaign, a gala concert is taking place at the hall on Saturday, July 19, featuring performances by Helston junior band, the ACT1 youth group, Meneage Arts Players, Rescipled, the Pentyr Singers and Helston and St Keverne Young Farmers.

Tickets are on sale at Heathercraft in Helston or by calling 01326 561636, email tickets@epworthhall.com.