Farm granted permission to play late-night music

Dorset Council made the change at Bredy Farm until the end of May next year to test new soundproofing

A farm that holds regular live events has been granted permission to play music until 02:00 at the weekends.

Dorset Council has extended the previous limit at Bredy Farm in Burton Bradstock by two hours until next May to test whether new soundproofing has been effective.

The business said the application aligned its barn hours with its festival licence, and that it installed additional soundproofing to be good neighbours.

The application was opposed by the parish council and some neighbours, though several people who have stayed at the farm wrote to support the change.

The supporters praised how safe the site was and how it also boosted the local economy.

But nearby campsite Graston Copse said people who visited for rural peace and quiet had been disturbed until the early hours by music.

Sir Mark Havelock-Allan, the closest immediate neighbour, said in his objection: "The Bride Valley is one of Dorset's Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

"In the evenings and at night it used to be so quiet you could hear an owl hoot on the far hillside.

"When the music (live or recorded) is being played at Bredy Farm what we now hear is the monotonous beat of the bass drifting across the intervening field."

He added: "It is far from being deafening; but it is noticeable, persistent and intrusive."

The application sets out the location of the barn in relation to its neighbours

Jennifer Harris, for the business, said she believed the barn "had successfully addressed our historical noise concerns".

She said all speakers were "angled away from the closest residential properties".

"We are committed to operating this venue in a way that is respectful to our neighbours, while still providing a vibrant and enjoyable experience for our customers," she added.

The business aimed to provide employment opportunities and "contribute positively to the preservation and enhancement of local identity and character," she said.

The business has been allowed to retain a small swimming pool which it built without consent

The planning decision comes after a licensing application for a drinks licence until 04:00 was rejected after concerns from neighbours.

In a separate application the business has been allowed to retain a small swimming pool, which it built without consent near the barn and first put to use last June.