Relief as school’s plan for outdoor events kicked into the long grass

RESIDENTS HAVE claimed a victory for common sense after councillors rejected controversial plans by an independent school to hold extra events for up to 3,000 people including pop concerts, weddings and outdoor cinema screenings.

Hymers College in Hull was granted an alcohol license earlier this year and has since applied to hold up to six more outdoor events a year, as well as others in school buildings.

The school claimed the “very limited events could be managed without harm to residential amenity”.

But residents in the conservation area, who were backed by MP Diana Johnson, said their lives would be severely disrupted, with events crammed into the summer months.

Resident Jean Collingwood told councillors there had been a “drunk” group of people at the recent Classics in the Park event, trying to put a flagpole on her car and struggling to phone a taxi late at night. The event was managed by a third party and complaints were being “shunted” towards organisers not the school.

She added: “I object to the lack of responsibility and control.”

Neighbour James Westwood said traffic after the Classics event was still backed up at 11.30pm. He added: “It’s fine once or twice a year but Hymers is seeking approval to regularly stage weddings and concerts throughout the year.”

Councillors said they had listened to neighbours’ views and refused the application. Coun John Fareham said people who lived near schools accepted problems like traffic at peak hours, but they could also expect silence for “swathes of the year.”

He said: “The college seeks to vary that trade-off.”