Neigbours have rallied around a dad who worries a new pub garden will keep his 2-year-old son up all night.

Will Bouquet has urged Harrow Council and The Castle pub in Harrow-on-the-Hill to dismantle a pergola that was put up in the pub’s garden. 

He claimed a misunderstanding around the location of the beer garden means it is now much closer to his home. Mr Bouquet’s neighbours have supported his campaign, which has included a petition to the council, signed by around 30 people who live on two roads next to the pub. 

Will said planning permission would never have been granted if the application had been properly understood. Harrow Council has since said it will take action over the pergola.

The council also acknowledged the pub’s plans were “poorly drafted” in a letter to Mr Bouquet, seen by the Local Democracy Reporting Service. Harrow Council has also sent an “informal warning letter” instructing the pub to plant replacement trees in “an appropriate location”.

But it insists planning permission would still have been granted, even if these concerns had been raised. Will found this difficult to believe. He said: “Something has gone very wrong here. The council said it misunderstood the plans.

“They’ve admitted they’ve made a mistake and they’re trying to cover their tracks by saying they would have granted permission [in its current form] anyway.”

He repeated his calls for the council and the pub to work with the local community to resolve the issue. Will said: “The pub is now at risk of making enemies with its neighbours. Why can’t we just move it back to how it was and all live in harmony?”

A Harrow Council spokesperson said: “After visiting the site to investigate, Harrow Council considers that the pergola is acceptable in its location in planning terms and is in line with the government agenda to support the hospitality industry and encourage the use of outdoor spaces.

“The trees that were removed were below the standard required for protection from a Tree Preservation Order.

“Notwithstanding this, Harrow Council is seeking replacement trees of an appropriate size and siting to replace those that were removed.”

The Castle pub has been contacted for comment.