A music venue owner says he will fight Waltham Forest council in court over noise complaints, which have put his business at risk.

Suja Khaled, who runs the Luna Lounge in Church Lane, Leytonstone, says he has never rowed with neighbours over noise since opening the award-winning venue in 2003.

However, earlier this month, the property was visited by a council officer following a complaint. A Noise Abatement Notice was issued, ordering the venue to restrict its music.

A council officer then returned to the Luna Lounge a fortnight later, handing out a £240 Fixed Penalty Notice and warning speakers would be confiscated over any further complaints.

Mr Khaled said: “We are not doing anything different, we have had no warnings about this before.

“I have never had any major problems with the police or the local authority before, we have built up a reputation on good business conduct.”

“This is our livelihood- music is the core of our business, if we lose our equipment we lose our business.”

The Environment Protection Act 1997 requires noise in town centres to be no louder than 60 decibels between 7am and 10pm or 50 decibels after that time.

Mr Khaled is now appealing the penalty notice in court, claiming the council told him a decibel reading of music at the venue was never taken.

He added: “It is worrying for us while it is in the process of going through the courts, but I am not going to let it go.

“We have added something to the town centre. Everyone comes here to have a drink and enjoy the music.

“We are really worried about how much more they can do to us, are we still going to be successful after all these years?”

Waltham Forest council deputy leader, Cllr Clyde Loakes, said: “The Council will investigate complaints about issues that could be a statutory nuisance, including reports of excessive noise.

"When noise issues are reported to us we will investigate and normally try to settle the complaint informally to avoid having to take formal action.

"There is no noise level set in law as to what would constitute a statutory nuisance. 

"We will shortly be reviewing the issues that arise from noise generated in our fast growing town centre evening economies.

"This review will allow us to further engage with local businesses and to come up with a best practise policy that takes into account the growing and successful nature of the wide range of activities now being undertaking in our town centres in the evening, that draws in not just local residents but those from further afield.

"With the arrival of the 'Night Tube' the timing is perfect for this review."