Go-ahead given for bistro and venue for live music

A PLAN to serve alcohol and stage live music at a former police station close to residential properties has been approved after the entrepreneur behind the venture dismissed suggestions he would open a pub.

Kevin Renton, who has previously run a pub in Micklegate in the centre of York, told Hambleton District Council’s licensing committee that objections to his ambition to launch a bistro in Easingwold’s Market Place appeared to have been fuelled by a “local misunderstanding”.

Mr Renton also claimed that objectors believed that he planned to open “some kind of wine bar with loud music”.

The district council’s meeting heard that some residents had expressed concerns over the proposals, claiming that the bistro would create noise, disorder and parking issues in the market town’s Market Place.

One resident wrote to the council’s licensing committee to object to the plans, stating that a business where late-night music was played was not compatible with homes in the neighbourhood.

He added that his concerns were heightened as there are residential properties and gardens close to the proposed development.

He also claimed that a service yard at the bistro would have “inevitable opportunities that stored rubbish and materials present to persons who possibly are not in control of all their faculties”.

However, the council meeting heard following consultation with North Yorkshire Police Mr Renton had committed to numerous measures, including installing closed circuit television cameras.

Councillors were told that the security measure would stop “highly undesirable” drug-taking and anti-social behaviour in the service yard behind the premises.

Member of the licensing committee also heard that the venture had received a significant amount of support from residents in the North Yorkshire market town.