Menu

Neighbours claim Ribbleton garden playroom used for partying and karaoke

Posted on - 16th November, 2024 - 8:00am | Author - | Posted in - Housing, Preston Council, Preston News, Redevelopment, Ribbleton
Glenview Close and Pope Lane junction, Preston
Glenview Close and Pope Lane junction, Preston

A garden playroom that neighbours claim is being used as a party venue for adults can stay put, councillors have decided.

Preston City Council’s planning committee heard that the outbuilding had been installed – without permission – at a house on Glenview Close in Ribbleton more than a year ago.

Town hall planning officers nevertheless recommended that committee members give the nod to what they said was an acceptable addition to the front garden of the dwelling.

Read more: Entire estate of affordable homes to be built on outskirts of Preston

However, allegations that it was more a place for passing piña coladas than kids parcels prompted almost an hour of debate about whether the owner of the structure should be forced to take it down.

Ribbleton ward councillor Pat Varty – who lives a few doors away from the property – said parties at the address were being advertised on social media.

“It’s used for entertainment purposes…there is a built-in bar, a built-in fridge – and it’s like a drinking session all the time.

“[There is] a karaoke machine in the garden.  Of course we want people to go in their garden and socialise – what we’re asking for is a bit of respect and [to] remember that we’re in a residential area,” said Cllr Varty, who spoke at the meeting in a personal capacity as a local resident.

Fellow Ribbleton representative Cllr Jonathan Saksena – addressing the committee in his official role – said the play space was actually “a garden nightclub”.

“If permission is granted with no conditions, the applicant will have been given carte blanche to carry on with this night-time revelry,” he said.

The householder did not appear before the committee – but several of its members expressed disquiet at the claims made about what was happening within the 15 square foot building.

Cllr Harry Landless asked whether the application – which attracted one objection from a neighbouring property – could be turned down “because what they’ve applied for isn’t actually what it is”. Meanwhile, his colleague Cllr John Rutter suggested imposing an alcohol-serving ban on the venue.

However, planning officer Laura Holden said how the occupant operates the facility “is up to them” – and that the application should be judged as if the building “isn’t [yet] there”.

On that basis, she said, it had to be assessed as an add-on whose use – whatever that may be – was “incidental” to that of the house and that any problems caused by it should be dealt with by the relevant authorities.

“If your neighbour had a party and it was too loud for you, it wouldn’t be necessarily a matter you’d ring the planning department about – it would be for the police…or environmental health to monitor it and act upon [any issues],” Ms. Holden explained.

She added that the planning matters to be considered for new outbuildings related to their size and location – not any noise that may emanate from them – which was why the council’s own environmental health department had not been asked for its opinion.

Committee member Liz Atkins said if that department had “properly dealt with” the matter – and the complaints previously brought to its attention about the building – “then we wouldn’t be here”.

A suggestion by two members – Cllrs Carol Henshaw and Lynne Brooks – that the application should be turned down because the outbuilding was “overbearing” for neighbours – was voted down and permission for the facility granted by a narrow margin.

In a statement issued to the Local Democracy Reporting Service after the meeting, a Preston City Council spokesperson said:  “Our environmental health team received a request for service relating to this address earlier this year from neighbouring residents living in the area.

“A warning letter was sent to the property owners during May and the details for our night noise service was communicated to the neighbouring residents. We received one call to this service in June – however, the officer on call was unable to witness a statutory noise nuisance.

“Due to the frequency of the parties and loud music we have been unable to establish a statutory noise nuisance and as there were no further calls to the service about this location for over a month following the initial call, the noise complaint was closed at the end of July.

“The residents still have access to the night noise service and can contact the duty officer again to visit if there are any further concerns.”

Subscribe: Keep in touch directly with the latest headlines from Blog Preston, join our WhatsApp channel and subscribe for our twice-a-week email newsletter. Both free and direct to your phone and inbox.

Read more: See the latest Preston news and headlines

Share
Preston in pictures Preston. Junction of Powis Road - Watery Lane 1981 with the Docks in the background. ©Prestons Iconic 1960's Bus Station pictured in 1981, 12 years after opening, looking at the Ribble Bus Co. side from Ringway. ©St Pauls Church, Preston transforms into Red Rose Radio Preston in 1981. ©Preston Guild Hall, Lancaster Rd Dull summer day 1981. ©Ringway Preston on a dull summer day in 1981. ©Class 390 Avenham Park, PrestonM6 Motorway Preston looking south summer 1984 ©BRITISH RAILWAYS CLASS 47/4 DIESEL LOCOMOTIVE 47975 THE INSTITUTION OF CIVIL ENGINEERS View more
Advertisement
Subscribe to the newsletter

Sign up below to receive Blog Preston's email newsletter. It wings its way into inboxes every Sunday and Wednesday rounding up our top stories and more.

Advertisement
News by location

Find news by location, select an area of your choice to be kept up to date with the latest goings on.

The Preston Guide

Discover local businesses and services near you.

Advertisement
Categories

Find news by category, select an category of your choice to be kept up to date with the latest goings on.

Blog Preston email updates

Receive our digest of the biggest and best stories every Sunday to your email inbox

We respect your privacy and you can unsubscribe at any time from our emails