Pub bid to keep marquee
LANDLORD HOPING PERMISSION WILL BE GRANTED DESPITE ‘NOISE COMPLAINTS’
A PUB boss said he hopes councillors will approve plans for a marquee to remain open after a “tough year”.
Oliver’s Pub and Kitchen in Eastwood applied to retain a marquee to the rear of the venue.
But the plans could be turned down today by Broxtowe Borough Council over noise and anti-social behaviour concerns.
Under Government regulations, the marquee can remain in place until January 1.
A number of objectors to the plans say the marquee, which was set up in May, leads to anti-social behaviour and noise, with “unreasonable” opening hours until 2.30am.
There were 21 objections to the plans including one from MP Lee Anderson who cited “a number of complaints” he had received from residents. But owner Kane Oliver told the Local Democracy Reporting Service that more than 500 people have signed a petition in support of the plans.
He said: “It’s a shame because unlike some businesses, we invested every penny of business grants back into the pub.
“We invested into the community and it worked, now people want the marquee to stay.
“Now we are in the situation where we are being told it will have to come down.
“We are restricted through the licence to only use the marquee 32 times a year and we never use it until 2.30am, out of respect to residents.
“It has allowed the community to come together in an open space which is Covid secure.
“At the end of the day, the beautiful thing is it has allowed space for other businesses to operate in it as well.
“We don’t excessively use it, usually once a month on a Thursday
and the residents closest to us are the ones who support it.
“I hope the council see it in the right way so it can remain open after a tough year.”
Broxtowe Borough Council’s planning committee was advised to refuse permission for the plans.
Council papers to be discussed at Planning Committee today said the marquee hosts outdoor events such as cabaret shows, DJ sets and sporting events.
The council’s conservation officer said the large marquee “is not in character with its surroundings” and impacts negatively on its surroundings which are in the Eastwood Conservation Area. The Environmental Health Officer also said there are “multiple noise complaints relating to the use of the marquee”.
Council documents stated: “The objections tended to raise complaints about noise levels from the marquee and unreasonable operating hours. These have negatively affected the welfare of local residents, disrupting their sleep and making it difficult to relax and enjoy their properties.
“The use of the outdoor marquee has also resulted in an increase in anti-social behaviour.
“There were complaints that the marquee structure was too dominating and was not in keeping with the character of the area, which is a conservation area with many Victorian buildings.
“Issues were raised about the marquee blocking land that had been used by neighbouring businesses for refuse storage awaiting collection. As a result of inadequate space for rubbish bins it has led to an increase in the number of vermin.”