Live events go-ahead at country park
FEARS OVER IMPACT ON HABITAT THAT ‘WILL INEVITABLY BE TRAMPLED ON AND DESTROYED’
CONTROVERSIAL plans for the cafe at Beacon Hill country park to start hosting live events have been approved by councillors.
The premises licence means the cafe can host dance performances, plays and film screenings, as well as live and recorded music.
Managers plan to use the decking at the front of the Leicestershire County Council-run cafe for some events and the licence includes the sale of alcohol, as long as it is served only to people who are seated.
Several residents objected to the plans, raising concerns over extra traffic from the events, and the potential for noise pollution and littering.
One respondent said: “Use of the area for music, plays, films and the consumption of alcohol will completely destroy the peace and quiet, not only for the human visitors to the park, but also for the wild animals (deer, foxes, badgers, squirrels, a wide variety of birds that make the park their home). “The meadow next to the seating area is currently awash with orchids and other wild flowers, which have been carefully nurtured by volunteers.
The licence includes the sale of alcohol, as long as it is served only to people who are seated.
“Were the proposed use of the cafe to go ahead, this area will inevitably be trampled on and destroyed.
“This is not an appropriate use of Beacon Park.”
Countryside preservation charity CPRE raised concerns the car park could be used for post-event drinking after the cafe had closed, and that young families would be discouraged from visiting the park if they saw “inappropriate behaviour from drink-fuelled visitors”.
But the council said in a response to the feedback that the plan is for music and performances to take place at set times throughout the year.
Managers are also hoping to use the alcohol licence to widen the drinks menu “in order to allow people the option to have an alcoholic beverage that accompanies a lunchtime meal, special breakfast or evening sharing plate”.