Western Daily Press (Saturday)
Village distillery owner toasts planning victory
AGIN distillery and bar in Chew Magna has been allowed to remain, despite several objections from locals.
The Chew Valley Distillery on Tunbridge Road has offered gin tastings and alcohol by the glass since March, when its alcohol licence was approved.
But owner Joe Kelly “did not realise” he also needed changeof-use permission to turn his stepmother’s hair salon into a distillery.
He submitted an application retrospectively and it was criticised by some locals and Chew Magna Parish Council.
But on Thursday officers at Bath and North East Somerset Council said the gin shop and bar could remain.
Mr Kelly said: “It’s an absolutely huge relief and we are happy to put it all behind us now. This has been going on for quite a time, but we are over the moon to get the news and ready to give back to the community.
“Unfortunately not everyone is happy about our presence, but this is a tiny minority who are adverse to change.
“I just want to invite these people into the distillery so they can see what it’s all about.”
He said he had found it “upsetting” to read the objections, as they came from people he “walked past every day in the street”.
Kate Kew wrote that it was not acceptable for the distillery to “ask for forgiveness rather than permission” and said it made “a mockery of the planning process.”
“Allowing this to become a walk-in drinking establishment, serving all manner of alcoholic drinks and being open until 11.45pm every night will attract many more drinkers than the existing retail business,” she said.
Mr Kelly argued that the distillery and bar had been operating since March and he had “never caused trouble” or “had any complaints”.
“They think it will be some sort of late-night drinking hole, but it isn’t like that. I grew up in the Chew Valley and the last thing I want to do is upset the local community,” he said.
Other objectors raised concerns about increased traffic, the distillery’s proximity to the road, and the extra waste it could generate.
But B&NES Council officials said it could stay, as long as it closed at 11pm along with the other drinking spots in the village.