The Riverside club in Stowmarket.

PEOPLE will lose their jobs if a council gets its way and reduces a snooker club’s opening hours, one of the directors has claimed.

The Riverside Snooker and Social Club in Stowmarket is appealing against Mid Suffolk District Council’s decision to cut its closing times on Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights from 2am to 12.30am.

Mid Suffolk’s Licensing Panel made the decision after concerns over the level of noise coming from the club in Stowupland Street.

Thirteen tenants of nearby Pickerel Court had signed a letter and sent it to the council about the issue.

But one of the directors of the Riverside, Robert Perry, said a letter from residents supporting the club was not read out at the Licensing Panel meeting in July.

“We have been fighting this for three years and I will keep fighting it because I know I will win in the end,” Mr Perry said.

“We are not just going to let up to 25 jobs go in this economic climate.

Mr Perry added: “It’s unbelievable how things have turned out.

“We cannot let them get away with it.

“We have a noise management system in place – a member of staff goes around the area every 30 minutes checking that we are not noisy, it’s been done since 2009.”

Mr Perry also claimed a positive letter from some Pickerel Court residents supporting the Riverside had not been taken into account.

A spokeswoman for Mid Suffolk was not prepared to comment on the claims made by Mr Perry.

However, the council issued this statement: “We can confirm that an appeal has been lodged against the council’s recent decision into reducing the opening hours of the Riverside in Stowmarket.

“This appeal will look at a number of aspects, including those that have been raised by the owner and nearby residents.”

The club is defying the council’s decision to reduce its opening hours as it continues to open until 1.30am every night between Thursday and Saturday.