MINEHEAD'S Wellington Hotel has been granted a Public Entertainment Licence for the existing pub and new extension, providing the sound levels meet licensing chiefs' requirements.

However, the Richards' Hotel Group chief executive Rod Price was fuming at the licensing meeting this week as he accused West Somerset District Council's licensing committee of "unfair treatment".

He said other hotels and pubs in the town had been given PELs without the need for the sound equipment to be checked out by officials.

The district council has already inspected the sound proofing at the hotel and found the property to provide sufficient protection but officers are taking no chances with homes being nearby.

The authority is keen not to see a repeat of the noise problems linked with the previously-named New York New York nightclub, which is also part of the Richards' hotel chain.

The new Wellington Hotel extension, which will increase the capacity from 440 to 760, will be ready within four weeks but music has not been played inside to investigate whether noise would disturb nearby residents.

After the licensing committee's decision on Tuesday, Mr Price stood up and made his feelings known to the chairman Cllr Keith Parkes.

He said: "I am very disappointed. This is unfair treatment because you have not treated us equally when other establishments have been given Public Entrainment Licences without any problem."

But Cllr Parkes would not reply and told Mr Price that the decision had been made and he could not comment.

The existing pub and new purpose-built extension will share the same fire exits so a PEL was needed for the entire venue.

The meeting was told that an acoustic ceiling had been fitted and found to be sufficient and the requirement for 38mm of dry lining material to be installed to provide further sound dampening had been exceeded.

Earlier in the meeting, Mr Price said: "We went to the expense of having a sound engineer produce a report because we were aware of the problems we had with New York New York.

"We wanted to satisfy the needs of this council and ensure that our customers can enjoy the music at whatever level they want.

"I would hope that you treat us as fairly as other premises which have not gone to the lengths we have because I know they have got noise coming out of those places."

The licensing officers agreed that the Wellington Hotel had done everything possible to soundproof the building but they still felt the music level should be tested.

l The Masons Arms Hotel in Williton is up for sale - two years after it was re-opened following years of neglect.

The 16th century property, which is part of the Richards' Hotel Group, was restored in May 2000.

Mr Price said the idea to sell up had been first discussed about a month ago in order to "restructure" the hotel group.

The decision to put the pub on the market follows The Egremont Hotel being put up for sale to be turned into flats after planning permission was agreed by the district council.