Avenham Park’s pavilion

A plan to serve alcohol until 1am at the pavilion in Avenham Park has attracted a number of objections from nearby residents.

The Pavilion currently holds a licence allowing it to open and run events until 11pm, but its owners say it is proving such a popular wedding venue it needs the flexibility to open later.

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Alongside the extended alcohol licence, Tribourne Catering Services have also applied to play recorded music until 1am.

Nine letters of objection were received, although a number of them have been withdrawn due to the city council’s enviromental health department requesting strict conditions if longer hours are given the go ahead.

One letter of objection says longer hours would have an “adverse affect on the tranquility and peacefulness of what is the gem in the crown of Preston.”

Another local resident writes: “Our house is situated at the top of the park overlooking the Japanese Gardens and the Pavilion. While superficially it may seem this is some distance away, in practice because of the acoustics of the natural ampitheatre of the Park, the sound travels considerably.

“Whenver events have been held in the Pavilion we can clearly hear the music and voices coming from there.

“The potential for this to occur any day of the week and potentially until 1am would be unacceptable disturbance and intrusion for nearby residents.”

“Over the last few years there has been a huge amount of money spent on the restoration of both Avenham and Miller Parks and they are now the jewel in Preston#s crown and a haven of peace and tranquility for everyone to enjoy. We feel that commercial enterprises must not jeopardise this.

“Unfortunately both parks have recentyl been marred with vandalism and we feel that extending the alcohol licence may potentially cause or add to anti social behaviour and vandalism within the park and surrounding areas.”

Another resident says comments made by city centre councillor Drew Gale about the application were incorrect.

Cllr Gale said: “It is in a great place, there’s no residential properties in the immediate vicinity so it won’t be disturbing anybody.”

The local resident writes: “Our house fronts onto the park. The design and roofscape of the Pavilion encourages sound to travel outwards into the park, especially if the windows are open.

“The park is a natural ampitheatre and sound then travels upwards towards the houses on East Cliff Gardens and Ribblesdale Place.

“It is therefore not correct to say there are no residential properties in the area.

“We are very concerned by the proposals to hold weddings at the Pavilion with a licence until 1am even on weekday nights.

“There is clear potential for late night noise to disrupt the lives of nearby residents, both during the working week and during leisure time at weekends.”

Not all local residents are opposed, one has written in support.

They write: “I believe this is a very good idea and will increase the ability of the cafe to respond and cater to various events that are held in the park, as well as to be able to ve a venue for things like receptions.

“If more people can be encouraged to use the park and cafe in the evenings then it will make it far safer for everyone and greatly reduce the risk of the periodic vandalism that occurs there in the evenings when the park has emptied.”

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Environmental health have agreed the following conditions be applied if a licence is granted.

They are:

– Amplified music and speech from the premises will not be played at volumes likely to cause disturbance to nearby residential properties.

– No activities that give rise to noise disturbances will be permitted in open areas.

– There shall be adequate supervision of the immediate vicinity to control both patrons visiting and leaving the premises.

-Any immediate external areas to the premises must be kept free from waste unless kept in suitable receptacles which are appropriately and regularly emptied. This includes discarded smoking materials.

– Areas immediately outside all entrances and exits, and where customers congregate to smoke must be kept clean, tidy and free from litter, especially in relation to discarded smoking materials. Suitable receptacles must be provided and regularly emptied in relation to cigarette butts and chewing gum.

– Clear legible notices will be displayed at entrances and exits requesting customers respect the needs of residents and to leave the area quietly.

A decision on the licence is due to be made by the city council’s licensing sub committee on Monday 10 November.

What do you think? Should it be granted a later licence or not? Let us know in the comments below