Social club blocked from holding outdoor music shows as neighbours share ‘nightmare’ noise concerns

A social club has been blocked from holding regular music shows in its car park as neighbours claim the nose would be a "nightmare". The Comrades Club, based in Cambridge Street, Godmanchester, has asked to extend its premises licence to cover its outside car park. Doing so would allow the club to sell alcohol in the car park and put on live music performances.

However, neighbours to the social club objected to the change, claiming the noise caused would be a “nightmare”. A hearing was held by Huntingdonshire District Council this week (April 24) to consider the club’s application to extend its licence and the objections lodged against it.

Rob Goodwin, from the Comrades Club, said the organisation put on family and dog friendly events, and also helped to raise money for charities. He explained to councillors that the club’s income came from a fixed number of sources, while its costs, such as utilities, wages, food and drink, were increasing.

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Sofia Mayhew, the club secretary, told the meeting that the social club had started holding music events in the car park in 2022 and said it had been “hugely beneficial” for the club’s finances. She explained that compared to a normal Sunday, the Sunday outdoor music events saw 100 per cent more sales.

Mr Goodwin said he was “acutely aware” that noise concerns were the main issue for many people and he said he had a “huge amount of sympathy”. He said it was important the noise was “correctly managed” and explained that the club had purchased a new noise monitor to measure the performance noise levels.

Mr Goodwin also said the performers would be set up further away than before, and that the speakers would be placed to face away from the road. He said: “We are aware of our neighbours and we try to live in harmony as best we can, but equally we are a business trying to survive.” The representatives from the Comrades Club said they had agreed with the environmental health officer to limit the live music events to two non-consecutive Sundays a month, for two hours between the period of 2pm to 6pm.

However, objectors to the extension of the licence highlighted that if the alcohol licence was granted the club would be able to hold more live music events under the live music act legislation. Anthony Saunders said: “It is worth bearing in mind that if you do grant this they can play music any time they like and for the residents it will just be a nightmare.”

Another neighbour Amelia Saunders said many more people like herself were working from home since the pandemic and therefore argued it was “vital outdoor areas are kept quiet”. She said she had found the noise coming from the Comrades Club “extremely intrusive” when working from home.

Ms Saunders also claimed the social club had shown a “discourteous attitude” to the licensing process and the concerns raised by neighbours, as she said they had already started to advertise summer outdoor events ahead of the hearing and decision being made. Councillors considered the arguments made by both sides in private before announcing their decision to refuse the licence extension.

Councillor Stephen Ferguson said the sub committee had acknowledged the social club was in a “dense residential area” and that it already could hold indoor music events. He said allowing the alcohol licence to cover the car park would mean the social club could play live and amplified music in the outdoor area in line with the live music act.

Cllr Ferguson said the sub committee did not believe allowing this to happen would promote the licensing objective of preventing public nuisance. He said live music performances outside would also increase the number of people and therefore noise in the outside area, which he said would be to the “detriment” of the neighbours. Cllr Ferguson added that the sub committee was not satisfied with the measures proposed by the social club to control the noise. The Comrades Club can appeal the district council’s decision to refuse its licence extension.