(Image: T&A)
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Councillors have gone against the advice of planners and approved a retrospective application for a beer garden just yards from residents’ windows.
Land next to The George pub in Cullingworth has been used as a beer garden for two years without planning permission.
Earlier this year, Richard Cullen applied for retrospective permission for change of use of the site, and the application went before Bradford Council’s Area Planning Panel on Wednesday.
If approved, the beer garden would remain in place, with people able to drink in it from noon to 9pm.
Resident hears drinkers for 9 hours
At the meeting, members heard from a resident who lived next to the unauthorised beer garden.
He told them that some days he had to put up with noise from drinkers for nine hours.
Planning officers had recommended the plans be refused, arguing that the introduction of a beer garden just a few feet from the windows of homes would be “detrimental to the amenity of occupants.”
Refused back in 2014
Members were told that plans for a smaller beer garden on the site were refused in 2014 due to the potential impact on neighbours.
That decision went to appeal, only to be dismissed by a government planning inspector who confirmed the proposals were unacceptable.
What were the plans?
Four people had objected to the most current plans, with one writing to the council in support.
Two petitions signed by hundreds of people had been submitted to the council in favour of the plans.
At the meeting, planning officers Lucie Fillingham said the plans are for 14 benches on the site, meaning there would be the potential for 84 people to be drinking there at any one time.
She said there was already seating and a beer garden to the front of the pub.
Any conditions to limit noise from the beer garden would be “unworkable” – members were told.
Councillor Jason Townend (Reform, Wibsey and Odsal) said: “The pub has been there since the 1800s, the residents will have known there was a pub there before they bought their house.
"I can’t understand why this is suddenly an issue.”
The beer garden with the George pub in the background (Image: T&A)
Noise is 9 hours a day, 7 days a week
Mrs Fillingham said: “It is not the pub itself that is the issue, it is the fact they want to use land next to people’s houses for a beer garden for 84 people."
Ian Turner, one of the residents who lives near the beer garden, spoke at the meeting.
He played a recording of the noise he hears from the garden, adding: “This is the noise we have to put up with nine hours a day, seven days a week.”
He said he had lived in his home for 20 years, adding: “The new owners of the pub will have known the land was subject to planning restrictions, but they have gone ahead with total disregard for planning regulations. We’ve had to suffer through this for two years.
“The owners have just bulldozed through this planning application in the hope they’ll be able to get it passed.”
He added: “There have been certain comments on social media by councillors that could almost be seen as lobbying.”
Owner 'didn’t realise' planning was needed
Bingley West Councillor Falak Ahmed (Cons) spoke in favour of the plans, saying the pub helps combat “loneliness and social isolation, which is a big concern among local residents.”
Douglas McLean, who owns the pub, said he did not know about the previous planning application being refused, but said the land had been licensed as part of the pub’s alcohol licence.
He added: “I didn’t realise we needed planning.”
'I'd take my wife for a meal here'
Committee member Councillor Paul Sullivan (Cons, Bingley West) said: “I’m struggling to think of a better run pub in Bingley West.
"I don’t go to pubs, but this is one of the few places I’d take my wife for a meal.”
Councillor Alun Griffiths (Lib Dem, Idle and Thackley), said: “We should be making decisions based on planning law, not whether you like the meals they serve.”
Councillor Ian Evans (Reform, Queensbury) said: “I live in a little village and live 30 yards from the local pub. I knew when I bought my house there was a pub nearby and there could be noise. The pub hasn’t appeared from nowhere.”
Councillor Ian Reed (Queensbury, Wyke) said: “From the evidence provided to us it seems the pub owners have taken every responsible step to abide by the regulations. My feeling is this will be good for the community.”
Who voted to approve the plans?
Cllr Sullivan recommended the panel go against officers’ recommendations and approve the plans.
Reform Councillors on the panel asked for the vote to be recorded, so the public would be able to see who decided to approve the retrospective plans.
Conservative Councillors Sullivan and Peter Cochrane (Wharfedale) and Reform Councillors Reed, Evans, Angela Baker (Keighley East) and Townend (Wibsey and Odsal) voted to approve the plans.
Cllr Griffiths voted to refuse, and the remaining councillors abstained.
Those who approved the plans decided to impose no conditions on the site.
After the meeting Cllr Sullivan posted an image on his council Facebook page saying: “The beer garden is saved. Thank you Cullingworth, we did it together.”
The post also promotes a “big beer garden party” planned for April.