Brass band blows away plans for new houses

The proposal would have seen six new three-bedroom terrace homes built on the former highways depot in Manor Vale Lane, Kirkbymoorside.

But officials from Ryedale Council said the noise from the Kirkbymoorside Town Brass Band, whose recently-extended practice room is a few yards away, would “have an adverse effect” on anyone who moved into one of the properties.

The council also said the land had a high risk of flooding and that alternative sites, with a lower risk, were available.

The Kirkbymoorside band is one of the oldest in Britain, its origins dating as far back as Waterloo, and has won a raft of awards. Its five ensembles rehearse all day on Sundays and on Tuesday and Thursday evenings, and its extension will allow it to also stage concerts there.

Band member John Barrett was among the 18 people objecting to the plans, which are the latest of several proposals to re-use the site.

Mr Barrett said the band “qualified for protection” from such developments as a “recreational service that contributes to the vitality of the community”.

Alan Hunter, a Ryedale planning officer, told councillors that while the land, formerly owned by North Yorkshire County Council, would benefit from development, the risk of flooding was too great.

Mr Hunter said: “The band hall is an important community and recreational facility.”

The planning reported added: “Noise and activities from the band room will be likely to have an adverse effect upon the amenity of occupiers of the proposed residential accommodation, which would be likely to generate complaints regarding the bands’ operations.”

The late medieval hunting lodge Neville Castle, just north of the site, would also be affected by the development, Mr Hunter said.

Kirkbymoorside town council had supported the scheme, but had also said it was concerned about flooding.

The developers said the proposed houses would have “vastly improved the appearance of the site”.