LICENSING chiefs have given the go-ahead for a wedding venue near the Black Mountains to host indoor music and serve alcohol.

Wild by Nature applied to Herefordshire Council for permission to host music, films, sell alcohol and provide late night refreshment at Lower House Farm in Longtown.

Applicant Jake Townley said they initially wanted permission to be able to offer outdoor music and cinema.

But after listening to local residents’ concerns over noise he said they no longer wished to host these events outside.

Speaking at yesterday's (October 27) licensing sub-committee, Judy Cecil and Robi Mandley also raised concerns over the impact the proposals would have on the narrow lanes.

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“Most of the events that have been hosted at the farm have had very little negative impact on the locality or on their neighbours,” she said.

However, she said the lane to access the farm is only wide enough for one vehicle.

“For example, a Land Rover pulling a stock trailer can’t even pass a bicycle on that road.

“The verges are vertical in most places making moving off the road for a pedestrian it impossible in lots of the places.

“The condition is poor with a deteriorating surface and the edges are disintegrating.

“There are three 90-degree corners in the 0.23 miles between the gate and the junction and no visibility along the road because of the gradient, the corners and the height of the hedges.”

Mr Townley said he understood there was an issue with traffic and the roads but that it was separate discussion they needed to have.

“In regard to the licence application, we are fully aware weddings have the potential to cause a noise issue.

“This is the main reason we applied for this licence was not necessarily an intensification of what we are doing.

“Our main objective was to have more control over what is happens here to prevent any issues occurring alongside hopefully making it more profitable.”

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Licensing chairman Alan Seldon said they could not take highways issues into account when considering licence applications.

“The decision we’ve come to is based purely on the evidence presented to us today and not on anything that might happen in the future,” he said.

“We have heard from the licensing authority, written public representations, public representations and from the applicant.

“We note that the business is acknowledged to be well run and engages well with the local community.

“With that in mind, we are minded to grant the application with the following informative.

“The applicant should give advance notice of 10 working days of any event involving over 100 people wherever possible.”

The venue is now permitted to have live and record music played indoors along with films every day of the week from noon until midnight.

They can also provide late night refreshment until midnight and sell alcohol from noon until midnight.