Licence suspended for hall

Gigs at a popular county venue have been cancelled and Herefordshire Council has suspended its licence due to complaints over loud music.

Environmental health officers have visited St Katherine’s Barn, Ledbury, and its surroundings 12 times since the end of May.

Last week, they served an abatement notice to stop loud music from being played at the venue following complaints from residents.

The Barn had a licence which allows them to host music, film and other entertainment events from 10am to midnight Monday to Sunday.

But residents said living next to the noisy venue was becoming unbearable.

David Thomas, who lives in a flat opposite the venue, told last week’s licensing sub-committee that he can only get to sleep after people have left the premises.

“No consideration is shown to me or others nearby,” he said.

“Due to the events taking place every weekend, I am often forced to leave my flat to escape the noise.

“I am unable to relax in my own home which surely is my basic human right.

“Most people look forward to the weekend, I do not.”

The council officers said they served the abatement notice after gathering evidence that the noise constituted a statutory nuisance.

“Due to the location, physicality of the area, structure of the building, frequency, times and nature of the events being held at the premises, it is our opinion the noise is causing a noise disturbance to the surrounding locality,” an officer said.

They had advised premises licence holder Lynn Jones about improvements which would help prevent the nuisance but none had been forthcoming.

Officers said the Barn was being used as a bar club than café and art gallery and considered the venue’s structure and position was unsuitable.

Barn owner Robin Oakey said their intention for the last 19 months has been to insulate the roof and triple glaze the windows.

“Through recent problems with the noise we’ve been delayed again by planning,” he said.

“We’ve always wanted to insulate the roof. Acoustically we wanted to put triple glazing in the windows.

“As it’s a listed building it’s like walking through treacle.”

Ms Jones told the hearing that she wanted the Barn to be an accessible venue to everybody and there was strong public support for the venture.

“We have a very friendly happy place,” she said.

“We have here a huge petition from all our friends of the Barn including 10 people who live at the Almshouses who have written things like just wonderful, fantastic, no problem, hear nothing at all and don’t hear anything.

“I would really like to work with everybody and make sure we can continue in a quieter space.”

Committee chairman Alan Seldon said they decided to suspend the licence for a period of three months.

“This is to allow time for consultation with the neighbours and time for noise attenuation measures to be put in place,” he said.

“Upon the lifting the suspension the conditions will be amended to include all licensing activities to be from 10.00 to 22.00 Monday to Sunday. Customers must leave the premises by 22.30. Windows and doors must be closed at 20.00.”