Hotel's outdoor event plan would 'ruin our lives'

Treloyhan Manor in St Ives was built in 1892 as a home for shipping magnate Edward Hain

Plans to hold outdoor events at an aparthotel have been rejected after a group of residents said the move would "ruin" their lives.

Treloyhan Manor Hotel in St Ives applied to Cornwall Council for permission to hold events on its lawn, but more than 60 local residents said they were concerned about the impact of the plans on their mental health.

The hotel company's solicitor, Joe Harvey, told a licensing meeting on Wednesday they wanted to address the concerns raised and offered to make changes including reducing the sale of alcohol to 23:00 BST.

The plans were, however, refused on the grounds of the negative impact on neighbouring residents in particular.

The 74-bed aparthotel is owned by St Ives Assets Ltd, who had applied for a licence to sell alcohol outdoors until 01:00 BST.

The residents who objected to the plans, which included holding outdoor cinema screenings, said they were concerned about noise and possible anti-social behaviour.

The manor, which was built by local shipping magnate Edward Hain as his private family home in 1892, stands right next to the South West Coast Path.

A licensing committee heard residents had concerns that, with no boundaries between their homes and the apartment building, the application could lead to drunken guests causing noise in the quiet spot and people urinating in their doorways.

Mr Harvey told the meeting the company had also offered to withdraw live and recorded music, with exemptions under the Live Music Act, and to reduce the number of events each year and limit attendees to 100.

He said some and possibly all of the concerns raised were unfounded, adding "nonetheless, concerns have been raised and it's important we address those concerns".

'Lost sleep'

Resident Paul Craig told the meeting: "We have all lost sleep over this application."

He said it was a "quiet residential area that is not and has never been suitable for an events space".

Alison Dedman said the application "has already affected my mental health, all my neighbours and loads of the surrounding neighbours".

"Our life will basically be ruined. Destroyed," she added.

St Ives councillor Andrew Mitchell, representing councillor Luke Rogers, said: "As every speaker has said, this is not a suitable venue for any outside events.

"I don't think any conditions could be imposed that would actually meet licensing requirements to prevent public nuisance."

Refusing the application, members said they felt that, even with the amendments, the use of the outside area would undermine the prevention of public nuisance licensing objective.