Fears events plan will shatter peace of Yorkshire village life

Residents in a small village are fighting plans to hold functions at a venue in the grounds of a country home because they claim noise from events is shattering the peace of village life.

Lumby Hall, is a country house, probably built in the 1700s, set within its own grounds in Lumby, a rural village between Selby and Leeds, and this week councillors will meet to decide whether to grant retrospective planning permission and allow events to be held.

Members of Selby District Council’s planning committee adjourned an earlier meeting to allow officers to provide more details about noise fears. Councillors were also told a number of letters supporting the application, to change the use of land to residential and to a function and events venue, had been received.

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The venue which retrospective permission is being applied for, is a large single storey garage on the property used to host events.

Noise nuisance tests carried out last year in neighbouring homes during an event found: “throughout the monitoring period loud music was clearly audible to such an extent that song lyrics could be easily made out.”

They note that: “At 21.52 noise arising from music and attendees at the event singing, shouting and laughing and singing along to Relax by Frankie Goes to Hollywood,” was heard.

The applicant, Liam Condon, wants to hold up to 20 events a year in the venue in the grounds of Lumby, but a report to members of the planning committee recommends the application is refused.

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Opponents have written to the council with concerns including: “The music was absolute bedlam even though it was inside the building. It is spoiling the peace and tranquillity of the village.”

While another says: “If we know in advance that events are taking place, we have arranged to go away for the weekend for the sake of our own sanity.”

At an earlier meeting councillors were told a number of letters have been received in support of the application with comments including: “the proposal adds a much needed vibe to the village,” and the “venue has proven its worth, particularly in the hosting of charitable events.” Supporters say parties also provide casual employment for local people.

Officers say the retrospective application, due to be discussed today, only refers to the garage building at the hall on Butts Lane. It says some comments were made before an event at a different location.

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In talks the applicant’s representatives have said its noise impact assessment submitted in support of the application demonstrates: “the impact of the change of use will not be significant and as such they were not able to specify any mitigation measures as they felt mitigation was not required,” according to the report.

However the report says a number of ways to lower noise have now been proposed by the applicant’s agent including underlining the roof but officers say they do not have enough information to decide its success.