Henley pub’s bid for more live events is put on hold

AN ELEVENTH-hour bid to push through more live music events at a TV chef’s pub in Henley was halted by councillors.

Controversial plans by Glynn Purnell to increase from three to 15 the number of events in the garden of The Mount in the High Street, were altered ahead of a meeting of Stratford District Council’s licensing panel and tweaked again during an adjournment.

The three councillors overseeing the decision were told that the pub had reduced to seven the number of events it wanted to put on in an attempt to appease nearby residents who had objected on noise grounds.

That was then cut to six events while councillors were reading through the revisions.

Duncan Craig, the licensing lawyer representing the pub, cited the unavailability of ward councillors and council professionals in his explanation as to why the revisions had only been presented to councillors on the day.

However, panel chair Cllr Davis Curtis (Lib Dem, Stratford Shottery) said he had been assured that the authority had dealt with the information it had been presented with in a timely manner and argued that the changes should go out to public consultation rather than just being discussed with the objectors present on the day.

“Having looked at the papers and having had our adjournment, all members of the panel feel the revisions are very significant,” he said.

“All members of the public need to have seen these revisions, not just the two members of the public here today.

“We feel it is important that all parties are consulted on these new proposals.

“The panel needs to come to a properly informed and fair decision, ensuring that we have taken into account all views from all representatives based on all the evidence.”

Having proposed to defer the decision, Cllr Curtis added: “I apologise to members of the public who have taken the trouble to come here today. It is important that the panel receives all papers in good time.”

There may be a new impact assessment based on the revisions, but the council’s environmental health professional Ben Ellis backed the concerns of objectors over the potential for noise and nuisance.

He cited complaints emanating from the tenure of previous operators and that the proximity of residential properties made it “very difficult to achieve” compliant noise levels during events, particularly given that they are likely to take place in summer months when people have windows open or wish to use their gardens in peace.

“I believe that three event days is (an) appropriate balance given the physical setting of the premises and considering the likely noise levels,” he wrote.

“I consider that any more than three would present a significant increase in intensity in the spring/summer months that would present an unacceptable impact on neighbouring premises.”