NEIGHBOURS living near a west Oxford pub that could reopen for the first time since 2013 fear it could become a nuisance.

The Holly Bush, on Osney Island, off Botley Road, has been closed for nearly six years but its new landlords want to reopen it on July 4.

Charles Wells Limited, which is based in Bedford, wants the Bridge Street venue to stay open until midnight on Fridays and Saturdays and until 11.30pm every other day.

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But 40 people have written to oppose the plan, including city councillor Susanna Pressel.

She told the city council: “I believe most of the local residents welcome the new owners and wish this establishment well.

“However, this is a tightly-packed residential area, with almost no ambient noise at night. The hours applied for are more suitable for a city centre pub, which this is not.”

Oxford Mail:

She said she was also worried about ‘cooking smells and associated noise’ from the pub.

In March, Ms Pressel said she and other residents had been ‘battling to preserve’ the building as a pub. Its previous owner had wanted to use it for housing.

She said ‘most local residents were delighted by the news’ of the reopening – but some are now annoyed.

READ MORE: When will Holly Bush pub in Oxford reopen?

Others said they worry the pub could cause public nuisance, crime and disorder and hinder public safety and protecting children from harm.

One said they were worried about the impact music and noise from the pub might have on residents.

They wrote: “There is no sound barrier whatsoever and the community has a right to be able to sleep during the usual hours and also sit in their gardens without having the peace disturbed every day.”

Another wrote: “The applicant appears to have mistaken Osney Island for a party resort, such as Magaluf.”

City councillors will be asked to approve the hours and the licensing application at a meeting tomorrow.

It is thought that work to renovate the pub ahead of opening started last month.

That included creating a new beer garden, with wooden decking and bench seating.

New customer toilets have also been installed.

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Another pub, The Punter, is a short walk away, in South Street.

It is open from midday to midnight from Monday to Saturday, and midday to 11pm on Sundays.

Charles Wells Limited already owns the Oxford Blue pub, in East Oxford– which specialises in pizzas and craft beer.

The Holly Bush was previously owned by pub giant Greene King, but it closed down and emptied the establishment six years ago.

The council’s licensing and gambling acts casework sub-committee will be asked to make a decision on the plan tomorrow from 6pm at Oxford Town Hall in St Aldate's.