All year licence bid angers locals

Jan 8 2008 by Brian Daniel, The Journal

PEOPLE living in a Northumberland hamlet have banded together to fight a neighbouring caravan park’s bid for a 24-hour entertainment and alcohol licence.

A group of 33 people at Waren Mill, in Berwick Borough, fear an increase in noise and anti-social behaviour should the proposals for a 365-day licence at Budle Bay Camp and Caravan site get the go ahead.

They are also concerned at the impact this would have on the picturesque nature and tranquility of what is a designated Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. The residents have hired a legal expert to fight an appeal from the park’s owners, that would allow them to stage events on site.

Vic Stead, of Mole End Cottage, is joint secretary of Waren Mill Residents’ Association, which has appointed the solicitor. He said last night: “We were quite happy with the previous arrangements with the previous owner who had two or three events during the summer season.

“This fellow said if he got the full licence he could please himself when he held any events. Nobody was happy with that so we decided to see if we could do something about it.”

Another resident said: “We have no problems with them developing the site as long as it is realistic for the boundaries of what is realistic for the people living here.”

The original application from partners Redridge Residential Ltd and Ingoe Mill Ltd was rejected by Berwick Borough Council’s licensing committee in July. The two companies appealed and a pre-hearing review was scheduled at Alnwick Magistrates’ Court yesterday.

The residents’ solicitor Mark Butson was present but the appellants failed to attend and the matter was adjourned until February 4.

Peter Horne, director of Redridge and Ingoe Mills, was unavailable for comment yesterday.