Noise fears scupper bar outdoor seating plan

A plan for an outdoor drinking area at a bar in North Yorkshire has been refused by councillors who said it would have an "unacceptable" impact on local residents.

Banks Lounge Bar, on Murray Street in Filey, had applied to use a rear yard as a seating area at the former Victorian bank, which was converted into a bar in 2018.

The application sought to remove an existing planning condition designed to prevent noise disturbance to neighbouring homes, particularly in the evening and during the night.

Under the proposal, the outdoor area could have been used until 21:30 and would have accommodated up to 35 people, but North Yorkshire Council said it would cause "undue noise" in the area.

Planning officers said the yard was in "close proximity to dwellings" and warned its use as a drinking area would be likely to increase customer noise, including "raised voices, laughter and general social activity".

A report scrutinised by councillors said such noise was "difficult to control and can be particularly intrusive during quieter hours".

It added that removing the condition would "significantly increase the risk of loss of residential amenity due to noise", which environmental health officers considered "unacceptable".

One representation was submitted in support of the scheme, with a member of the public describing the bar as "a well-run establishment" that should be "encouraged".

However, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service, planners concluded that allowing the outdoor area would introduce levels of disturbance not previously experienced at the site.

Refusing the application,North Yorkshire Council officers said the scheme would have resulted in "undue noise and disturbance", causing "significant harm" to residents living close to the rear of the bar.

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