A pub with a history of "problems regarding noise" has had an application that would allow the use of its beer garden after 11.30pm approved.
Kitty O'Sheas in Pontardawe applied to remove a condition on its premises licence stating that its beer garden and any other outside area should not be used after 11.30pm.
The pub owners have also applied to add a new smoking shelter in the rear beer garden and add a new emergency fire exit.
Currently, smokers at the pub will use the pavement outside the front of the premises, which has resulted in a number of issues regarding noise - something that has prompted the pub to apply to vary its licence.
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There were initial difficulties between the pub owners and consultees - the police, Legal Regulatory Services (Licensing) and Environmental Health - over the number of people that should be permitted to use the new smoking shelter.
A report of the Head of Legal Services at NPTC says that the consultees "raised concerns in regard to the potential increased noise nuisance and requested additional conditions be attached to the licence."
A number of new conditions were proposed, including that only two people should be permitted to use the new smoking area at any one time after 11.30pm.
Other proposed conditions include that no drinks should be taken into any outside area after 11.30pm and "prominent signs" must be provided requesting people in the shelter to keep quiet to "minimise impact on residents".
A representation from South Wales Police's Police Licensing Officer, Nick Bailey, in the NPTC report stated that the applicant had said that the use of the pavement outside the pub by smokers had caused a "number of problems regarding noise".
It added: "The reality of the situation is that changing the location of the smoking area will not remove all noise disruption but will merely move it to another area, potentially affecting a different set of neighbours, and it is clear that this change has been brought about as a result of ongoing [and] frequent complaints from residents affected by noise from use of the front of the premises.
"We must, therefore, be very careful that the rear beer garden has been chosen for the right reasons, rather than merely an area which has historically not attracted the same level of complaints about noise."
Another condition among the final list of those recommended states that no drinks are to be taken into the new smoking area after 11.30pm, with a comment from PLO Bailey adding that they could become " a potential source of noise or becoming a cause of arguments through spillage etc. or worse weapons."
A comment in the report by NPTC Officer, Peter Malough, said: "There is a residential street (Dynevor Terrace) directly behind the beer garden and if proper control measures are not enforced and adhered to then these residents will clearly be affected as they live so close to the premises.
"With the close proximity of residents in mind I would request that the permitted number of customers allowed in the designated smoking shelter be reduced to two, as this would significantly reduce the noise and potential impact on residents."
Mr Malough added that it was important to highlight that "if residents are negatively affected or the premises does not comply with the conditions requested, further action would have to follow."
The pub owners agreed to all the requested conditions, in addition to the condition regarding access to the smoking shelter.
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