A Suffolk pub can now serve alcohol from 7am for nightshift workers on Sizewell C, despite local concerns about disturbance and wellbeing.

Residents signed a petition and town councillors lodged an objection but The Engineers Arms in Leiston has gained approval for a variation in its licence, allowing it to sell alcohol from 7am.

The pub intends to serve people after nightshifts working on the maintenance of the planned nuclear power plant Sizewell C.

Sizewell C is set to be built next to the existing Sizewell B plant, which is around three miles from the Engineers Arms.

East Anglian Daily Times: How the new Sizewell C nuclear power will lookHow the new Sizewell C nuclear power will look (Image: EDF Energy)

The application was to allow sale of alcohol from 6am but was amended by one hour by the licensing committee of East Suffolk Council, on the basis of potential disturbance early in the morning and the stated desire by those running the pub to open at 7am.

Local residents drew up a petition against the application and Leiston-cum-Sizewell Town Council made a representation opposing it.

The main concerns were anti-social behaviour, protection of children from the sale of alcohol on the way to school, health and wellbeing of local residents, and noise and disturbance.

Having spoken to those worried about the plans, the couple who runs the pub said they would install signs asking people to leave quietly to avoid disturbance.

They also reassured the committee they had never had any issues with the police or with anti-social behaviour. The pub also operates under Challenge 25.

Neither the police nor the council’s environmental protection team objected to the plans.

No representatives from the town council or other objectors attended the East Suffolk Council licensing meeting, where the application was discussed.

The Engineers Arms can now sell alcohol between 7am and midnight on Monday to Thursday, 7am until 12.30am on Friday and Saturday, and 7am to 11pm on Sunday.

The landlords said they intend to close at 11am and open again at 3pm on the days they open from 7am.

The government is reviewing plans for the power plant but a spokesperson for Rishi Sunak said last week that the government hopes to “get a deal over the line as soon as possible”.