Residents’ anger over traffic issues at popular pub
A POPULAR Huddersfield wedding venue is to be allowed to continue with its premises licence despite nearby residents’ concerns over traffic.
The Woodman Inn at Thunderbridge regularly hosts weddings with dozens of guests parking “nose-to-tail” in narrow surrounding lanes.
Locals who asked Kirklees Council to review the inn’s licence said they have become increasingly concerned that growing numbers of cars are “an accident waiting to happen”.
But after hearing from residents and the inn’s management at Huddersfield Town Hall the three-member Licensing Panel ruled to allow the venue to continue to operate.
Chairman Clr Carole Pattison said: “This is a highways and parking issue. It’s not something that we as a licensing panel would have any right to change.”
Resident Robert Wood, who carried out a survey of traffic movements in the area, said on one day he counted more than 50 cars clogging Thunder Bridge Lane, which leads to the 18th century inn from the main A629 Penistone Road.
He said the car park adjoining the inn could hold just 40% of vehicles attending wedding functions, forcing revellers on to surrounding lanes.
And with the inn’s promotional literature advertising space for 400 guests he said that the tiny hamlet was being swamped.
He told the meeting: “It’s unbelievable. They park right up to the junction with Dam Hill on the blind corner, and on the pavements.”
Managing director of the inn, Lawrence Yates, said staff were doing everything possible to ensure revellers parked in a safe and considerate manner
n December 7 the venue had enjoyed one of its busiest days and “there were no problems whatsoever.”
He added: “We are never going to do 500 cars. We are not that sort of venue. We are about quality, not quantity.”
The Woodman has recently benefited from a £1m revamp that included transforming a derelict garage into a beer garden and buying up a nearby house to increase the number of rooms on site to 19.
An orangery and glass-fronted marquee have also added to the venue’s appeal. Speaking after the panel gave its verdict Mr Wood said: “It’s wrong for the village. It’s taking it away from what it used to be, and it’s dangerous.
“My fear is that there’s going to be an accident with vehicles but also with people as well.” Mr Yates said he and his staff were continuing to work with local residents, the majority of whom supported the Woodman.
“You have got to get on with everybody. We don’t want to be causing our neighbours headaches. It’s about being fair. If you’re fair people appreciate it.
“We are very respectful to the people who live here. Anything that we can do to keep residents happy, we will. They are lovely people.”
Anything that we can do to keep residents happy, we will. They are
lovely people.