Music venues concerned by hotel plans

PLANS by pub chain JD Wetherspoon to open its first Cardiff hotel have sparked an angry response from nearby businesses.

It is the location of the rooms – overlooking the city’s premier music street – which has enraged people.

The proposal, agreed by Cardiff council, is for 17 rooms to be built on empty floors above the Gatekeeper pub.

The pub sits between Westgate Street and Womanby Street, which is known for its live music venues including Fuel, Clwb Ifor Bach and Full Moon Club.

As first reported in yesterday’s Echo, objections to the proposals were sent to the council by both Clwb Ifor Bach and the Full Moon Club.

Even though the hotel rooms would need to have sound insulation as part of the planning permission, the club’s owners fear any noise complaints from Wetherspoon’s customers to the pub chain owner could be blamed on their venues – despite the music venues being long established.

Now leading members of Cardiff’s music scene have opened up about their concerns.

Ed Townend, founder and director of Cardiff Music Awards, said: “Especially since January, two venues have closed down [The Moon Club and Dempseys]. That’s worrying in itself but for the council not to see there’s a problem in that sense but to also approve something that threatens the safety of the last three remaining venues there, is really, really concerning.

“We’re looking to the council to protect live music in Cardiff. It is such a fantastic export.”

He said the release of the shortlist for the awards this month shows the quality of the music scene here.

In England, regulations which helped small music venues were introduced in 2016.

The so-called “agent of change principle” means that in England the person or business responsible for the change is responsible for managing the impact of the change.

So, in the cases of flats being built near established live music venue, it would be the new developer who has to, in law, deal with any resulting issues, not the existing tenants. But that wasn’t adopted in Wales

Steve Bines, who runs the Full Moon Club, said that means any noise complaints made by customers at the new hotel could impact the neighbouring businesses.

He also pointed out the venues on Womanby Street are small independents, who do not operate with huge profits.

He added: “For us, and Clwb, that money is from the club nights after the bands have finished. If restrictions were put on us to close at 2am or midnight we would shut.

“There is a genuine fear that is could only take three noise complaints for a noise abatement notice to be put on this building.

“If the noise was coming from the street, it would be all the venues.

“The only thing that could really protect everyone else is if Wetherspoon took responsibility for dealing with any noise complaints that come.”

An online petition has been started by someone called “Music Supporter”. In its first 24 hours, almost 2,000 people have signed the petition.

A JD Wetherspoon spokesman said: “There are no on site and opening dates confirmed for the hotel project at The Gatekeeper, in Cardiff, as yet.

“However the work is planned sometime this year.

“Planning permission has been granted, for the proposed 17-bedroom hotel, which we aim to open alongside the already thriving pub – first opened as a Wetherspoon in May 2001.

“We are fully aware of the planning detail, with regards sound proofing, and we do not see any reason why this would have an impact on the live music venues in the area.”

A Cardiff council spokesman said: “Cardiff has a thriving city centre with a variety of music venues to visit and enjoy. The Deregulation Act 2015 also allows any business with an alcohol licence to play amplified live music from 8am until 11pm to an audience of up to 500 people – without it being stipulated on the licence agreement.

“This planning approval has conditions – so soundproofing will be put in place on either side of the hotel to ensure both road and background noise are mitigated. A further condition is also required to approve the implementation of the soundproofing scheme to the floor/ceiling between the existing bar area and the hotel rooms.” for