Entrepreneur gets permission to open bistro in Easingwold's old police station despite concerns about 'loud music and bad parking'

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 York, told Hambleton Council’s licensing committee objections to his ambition to launch a bistro in Easingwold’s Market Place appeared to have been fuelled by a “local misunderstanding” that he planned to open “some kind of wine bar with loud music”.

The meeting heard some residents had expressed concerns the proposal would create noise, disorder and parking issues in the Market Place.

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One resident wrote to the licensing committee to object stating a business where late-night music was played was not compatible with homes in the area.

Easingwold's town centreEasingwold's town centre
Easingwold's town centre

He added his concerns were heightened “as there are residential properties and gardens in the immediate vicinity, a service yard with the inevitable opportunities that stored rubbish and materials present to persons who possibly are not in control of all their faculties.”

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However, the meeting heard following consultation with North Yorkshire Police Mr Renton had committed to numerous measures, including installing CCTV.

Councillors were told the measure would stop “highly undesirable” drug-taking and antisocial behaviour in a service yard behind the premises and the venture had received a significant amount of support from residents.

The town’s parking issues mainly related to people.