Venue’s music bid raises care home concern
DOZENS of objections have been raised to a luxury wedding venue’s bid to have outdoor live music ‘just a stone’s throw’ from an old people’s home.
The owners of Hilltop Country House, on Flash Lane, Prestbury, where Olympic cyclists Jason and Laura Kenny celebrated their 2016 marriage, want permission for performances from
Wednesdays to Sundays.
Under the terms of the licence requested this could be both inside and outside until midnight, although the application states outdoor music will only be acoustic and ‘till 7pm at the latest’.
The owners are also looking to serve ‘late night refreshment’ inside and out until 10pm from Monday to Sunday and play recorded music indoors on the same days until midnight.
Cheshire East Council’s licensing committee - chaired by Macclesfield Independent councillor David Edwardes, will hear the company’s licensing application on Friday, July 30, before making a ruling.
But there has been 35 objections from residents who say that while indoor music has not caused a problem previously, moving it outdoors is a different matter.
One said: “I feel this would have a detrimental effect on the environment both for the local wildlife, the farm animals and of course the local residents.
“I feel that the introduction of live and recorded music to be blasted over the surrounding rural area is not a positive step and will have a detrimental impact to all, this would include the Bupa care home which is just a stone’s throw away.”
An NHS worker at Macclesfield Hospital also objected, saying it would disturb much needed sleep of a shift worker and pointed out increased alcohol consumption affects crime and vandalism rates in the immediate area.
The venue, owned by Hilltop Country House Events Ltd, has four bed and breakfast rooms, a marquee and wedding bar with soundproofed dancefloor, large gardens and parking for 50 cars.
Civil ceremonies can take place in the house and the website described it as an ‘exclusive wedding venue in the heart of the Cheshire Countryside’.
According to the application, the late night refreshment will take the form of an outside pizza oven.
The application states: “We have already been operating at Hilltop for 10 years and this licence change is the same team with a new company.
“We have a super experienced team and have had zero complaints on this period with no reports of any disorder or crime.
“Our friends and neighbours have been key to the success of Hilltop, noise ad anti-social behaviour are stopped at source and people will be asked to leave straight away if this occurs.”