Britain could follow California with stricter smoking laws

By Angela Frewin and Rachel Lewis

RF Hotels faces legal action for allegedly breaking restrictions on working hours during the construction ofits £15m luxury hotel in Cardiff Bay.

Cardiff County Council's environmental protection division is recommending prosecution of both RF Hotels and John Laing, which is building the five-star, 120-bedroom property, following complaints from residents.

The council had limited building work to between 8am and 6pm from Monday to Saturday in order to minimise disturbance to nearby residents. It says it has evidence of work starting at 7am and continuing until 7pm.

RF Hotels commercial director Richard Power said the company had always tried to work within the permitted hours, adding that the existence of other developments around the site made it difficult to pinpoint sources of noise.

RF Hotels wants the hotel ready for the European Summit, which will be held in Cardiff next June.

Power confirmed that the company had recently withdrawn an application to work two hours longer at night as progress was such that any benefits did not justify the extra disturbance. But it may reapply for extended working hours in the New Year.

RF Hotels, in concert with the other developers, has already paid for double glazing and window-cleaning services to placate locals (Caterer,4 September, page 14).