The Parish Council and some local residents are objecting to The Yard's application for a new premises licence for live music, recorded music and the sale and supply of alcohol.
The Pickering family have applied to have live music performed inside their South Street premises from 7pm to 11pm on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays and from 12noon to 9pm on Sundays.
They are also requesting a licence to play recorded music indoors from 7pm to 11pm on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays and from 12noon to 10pm on Sundays and to sell and supply alcohol (for consumption both on and off the premises) from 8.30am in the shop and 12noon in the restaurant until 11pm Monday to Saturday and 10am to 9pm on Sundays.
The police have registered no objections to the application but Cheshire East Council has received 11 written objections from local residents on the grounds of noise disturbance.
Many of these were copies of the same letter stating "For the last several months I have suffered disturbance from rowdiness and music as a result of activities at The Yard. The noise is not just from within the venue, but also created when patrons mill around outside, talking noisily and as they come and go, and particularly when outside smoking. This is a quiet residential area and it is totally inappropriate to open up a licensed premises."
A concerned resident also wrote to the Parish Council about the application which the councillors discussed at their meeting on Monday, 10th February, and agreed that they could not blame local residents for objecting to the application.
Cllr Melanie Connor said "When they had the last big event there one of the residents asked me to stand in my garden at 12 o'clock to see if I could hear it and I could hear people speaking let alone the music, it was so loud. So living there must have been murder."
Cllr Mary Maczkowiak added "They are right opposite elderly residents."
Cllr Mike Williams commented "People should realise that the argument they made in their design and access statement was that it is sustainable development. It is a travesty quite honestly. I'm going to be writing to Mike Suarez the Chief Executive (of Cheshire East Council) to express our disgust."
Cllr Frank Keegan added "I think it's important that the Parish Council writes to (Inspector) Sue Mills, because in the normal course of events the officer is a retired police officer who states the police view and he goes normally by the law, which basically says if no-one has objected and no-one has complained then the police have no objection, but in this particular case the police should have objections. So the report he gives over should acknowledge the local situation."
On the application Stewart Pickering said "The operation at The Yard is based on food and quality events. It is not a bar or a public house. Customers attending events are respectful of the musicians and come to The Yard to appreciate good music performances and educational events. The Yard is a cultural place where many regularly attend the activities. Therefore we are not frequented by those who are just out to have a drink.
"We will ensure that this responsible behaviour continues and take steps to ensure any excessive consumption of alcohol or rowdy behaviour is controlled effectively."
The Licensing Act Sub-Committee will meet on Wednesday, 19th February to consider this application and Alderley Edge Parish Council agreed that a representative should attend the meeting and arrange to speak.
Comments
Here's what readers have had to say so far. Why not add your thoughts below.
Part of our proposal is to make specific changes to ensure the neighbours are not inconvenienced. I would like to offer an invitation to all interested parties to visit the Yard for tea/coffee and cake and to have the opportunity to discuss the future operation of the Yard and to make proposals to ourselves to satisfy all concerns.
I suggest Saturday 15th February at 3pm.
Please email or call my mobile 07961 539630 so I can have enough cake available!!!!
We want to offer a venue which will benefit the community. Feedback from our customers and other neighbours has been so positive in that we have provided a community space for people to gather, for the arts, health and wellbeing.
Stewart Pickering
I know for a fact that the Pickerings make every effort to keep noise to a minimum, even to the extent of asking customers to leave as quietly as possible.
Please let's not forget that the Yard is right next to a main railway line and that parking is rarely nearby thus reducing vehicle noise.Also the numbers are very limited compared with the drinking clubs.
I am in favour of opposing money- grabbing chains who make no efforts to control noise into the early hours, but quality innovations such as The Yard should be encouraged rather than hampered by petty bureaucracy.
To have this music playing every weekend would be serious noise pollution which I could not live with.
Maybe some sound proofing and shut doors and windows would help?
What part of "The Police have registered no objections" does Frank Keegan not understand ?
So, the Police Officer authorised to make any recommendations is retired, but surely if he has been put in an official position to make these objections (or NON-objections in this case) then his suggestions should be agreed upon and Frank Keegan should respect this ex.Police Officer's official views.
Regarding Cheshire East Council receiving complaints .......... there are always going to be certain people whose sole job in life is to complain and object about anything and everything
The Police Officers have a conflict. The Local Police are reporting a general increase in complaints and registration of behaviour which could impact on licences of particular establishments within the village.
The retired Officer who makes the Police position to the Committee, does not actually speak to the local Police, before writing his report! So the local police do not actually know what is being reported at Committee. It is a case of one part of the Police Force not knowing what another part is doing. A retired Police Officer should not be making reports re Licencing, but rather the Local Police should be reporting what is actually the Local experience.
Additionally, The Yard seems to bring a welcome variation in its approach to doing business in Alderley Edge - and in providing the opportunity for us to enjoy listening to local (often quite young) musicians, they surely enhance the lives of many people in the village.
On a different but related point -the two buildings facing the yard are, I imagine a mixture of flats, and the sheltered housing referred to above. A healthy urban mix needs both, but do they have to be so lacking in imagination from a design perspective?
Maybe it's time to redevelop the forgotten space behind London Road.
Up to date soundproofing may even help everyone to be happy.
Oh - and Heather - how can you hear the yard over all the other noise close to your home - and how can you tell the difference ?
I will be at the meeting.
I fully concur with others (who have actually been) that the owners take very seriously their responsibility to neighbours and noise.
As far as I am aware, most musical events at The Yard are "acoustic" and do not involve big amplification.
It is clear from the comments attributed to some of our councillors that they are objecting to something that they have no real knowledge of. The comments attributed to Melanie Connor must be misquoted? Frank Keegan, having learned that the Police have no objections, wants to rewrite the rules until they produce the result he wants. Mike Williams quoted comments need further explanation as they appear to make no sense.
I feel confident that if they meet with the Pickering family and see the good work they are doing in providing an oasis of good, fresh artisan food and produce in the village, complimented by the occasional evening of tasteful music (usually provided by up and coming local musicians) they will see that this is an initiative to be supported, not shot down.
Breakfast and lunch are great & the live music nights that I've attended have been a real breath of fresh air. Great music attended by a lovely very respectable crowd and run by decent folk. I think that The Yard is a real credit to our village offering some much needed diversity and is becoming a much needed hub of the community.
We need to be right behind our local businesses, backing them up whenever possible. Or would you prefer there to be a nice pleasant corporate Starbucks or Subway in its place, or maybe we could go down the route of Wilmslow and exchange The Yard for another charity shop in the future?.
Sounds to me like a few simple & sensible measures need to be discussed an put in place to reassure the local residents and to put their minds at rest.
I wont be able to attend the meeting on the 15th Feb, but I do wish The Yard all the very best.
Lizzie xx
Having been on numerous occasions to The Yard, and excited about the great positive energy the business has, I truly admire the ethos of this new venue. The Yard is all about community and bringing people together in the most positive and enriching way. If any inconvenience has been caused there is no doubt the owners will make amends. I have seen an immediate reply to neighbours by offering a chance to discuss with them the situation. I fully support this venue and its vision.
The people behind The Yard are trying earnestly to do something different, to offer an alternative to the main stream. They should be encouraged and applauded not denigrated.
The Yard is trying to bring a little joy into the world. I am sure the nuisance is not so far off the scale that a little common sense cannot prevail. What we need in the village is more indie enterprise not less.
I am appalled at your reporting, given your job. The article clearly states that AEPC will be writing to the CEO about the Planning Approval, based on a Design and Access statement which we consider to be inaccurate. It claimed the support of the Parish Council which was patently untrue; we do not regard a business which has a short lease as sustainable, and had most certainly not expressed any approval to the applicants.
Cllr Frank Keegan says that the Yard's business is unsustainable because of a short lease. I am not sure how he draws that conclusion. It would appear from all the comments above that it is indeed thriving and valued. Shouldn't AEPC be helping and supporting local businesses?
Why do councillors use such emotive language, like 'Appalled', 'Disgusted' and 'Murder'; I don't feel this portrays them in a good and level headed light.
I'm APPALLED and DISGUSTED that some councillors in the village are so petty-minded about our thriving village.
Maybe Trevor Williams should stand for councillor so he can MURDER any suggestion of any new restaurants, wine bars, shops, etc.
Revellers outside are also very noisy and can be heard above the music. I think the yard is great too, and would very much enjoy the proposed venue. But there are many homes within ear shot of the yard who would have to put up with the music late at night and this is a real problem.
I wonder if many of those in support of this may not be living in ear shot of the venue and if they did would have a very different opinion of this matter.
Many of these were copies of the same letter."
… to me it sounds as if there is someone with a bee-in-their-bonnet and has rounded up vague buddy-support. If so, this is not a case based on fact nor reasonable argument - it is an expression of anxiety. Stewart Pickering's invitation to discuss on Saturday is both practical and magnanimous (and a genuine expression of consideration). If the nae-sayers do not attend, I'd like to see that they forfeit their campaign.
Loud drinking Venue???
Please, at least do us the favour of acquainting yourself with what it is you are commenting on rather than jumping on a very (very) dubious bandwagon.
Most of the revellers in the village in the evening seem hellbent on getting intoxicated and sleepy for all the wrong reasons! I know which scenario I would prefer! Clearly you are new to our village!
(Yesterday evening somebody set up an account pretending to be Simon Pickering, this account has now been deleted and to clarify this comment is not posted by Simon Pickering of The Yard.)
1) People go there specifically to listen to the music--the music does not have to compete with a cacophany of noise from the customers so there is no need or desire for it to be excessively loud.
2) The modest size of the venue further reduces the decibel requirement.
3) The owner and family are always there and are therefore in a position to deliver on any assurances made re decibel reduction.
It beggars belief that the same authorities who have given licences to numerous venues on the strip might offer opposition to such a praiseworthy venture.
(Yesterday evening somebody set up an account pretending to be Simon Pickering, this account has now been deleted and to clarify this comment is not posted by Simon Pickering of The Yard.)
There is only one factor that should be taken into consideration and that is the neighbours
They were there first and should be allowed to enjoy there homes without disruption and disputes.
He also refers to Alderley as a village and not an inner city night spot.Roll on summer, let the urinating in the street and vandalism begin .
What sound proofing has actually been done? Have the metal shutters been sound proofed at all? The live and recorded music events echo between buildings straight into my lounge and bedroom. We can hear every word with windows shut. Yet in my contact I cannot put my washing machine on late in the evening due to inconsiderate noise caused to my neighbour's! I get up for work at 5am on some week days, and so coming home at 8pm to live music until at least 11pm is real punishment. I cannot afford the £50 price tag associated with many of your events. Music has been blasted out on occasion up until 2am. Last summer a ginormous bouncy castle type pop up night club was in your car park with live DJ's, Astin Martins parked outside Holly Oaks and Coronation Street celebs on a roped red carpet - not very holistic?! There seem to be quite a few private events which obviously offer local residents nil benefit. Always been unclear of your underlying intentions but with live music events and alcohol becoming bigger part of what the Yard is about it's starting to become very clear.
People have no shops and/or no restaurants, just a sleepy shadow of a village, and they complain because it lacks vitality, fails to attract investment and they have to drive 5 miles for a nut bolt. However, when there is still an attempt at vitality, because this is where the half-agonising Alderley is right now, people complain because it's noisy (note: 4 times a month, by what has been said above). Make your minds up, you cannot have it both ways. Do you want it dead or do you want it lively?
I can assure you all that when the Yard have had non acoustic evenings over the summer the noise has been very loud, repeatedly waking me up and forcing me to wear earplugs to be able to sleep. I have not complained as this seemed to be occasional one off parties, but can't be allowed to happen every evening!!!!!
I live on Redesmere Drive.
By the way, no-one has ever companied to us, whether in person or via a discreet note through the door .... now that the application has teased out the issues our proposals will, I am sure, satisfy the objectors and give you a peaceful and neighbourly existence.
I'll leave the other points until Saturday but I am quite happy to meet at another time if you wish.
I know this makes me come across as a negative, no fun kind of guy (which I am not), but this issue really effects my life. And to all the people who think I am being a negative-nelly, if you had to live with it, you would see my side of the story. If anything, the financial punishment I will suffer when I want to sell my property will be substantial enough for me to fight this licence. Who will buy a home that has 2nd hand music blasting through the bedroom wall??
Unfortunately I cannot make the meeting on Saturday either. However, If you would like me to complain in person next time an event disturbs me... I'd be more than happy to!
Equally the comments made by the AEPC I find staggering, the fact the police raised no objections was because nobody had ever complained to them specifically about the Yard, if an area has a high number of police complaints for general behaviour due to licensed premises then this can be used as an objection but as much as the AEPC like to think there are a high number of complaints, in actual fact for the amount of licenced premises we have there are not, so the police have no basis to object, and it is certainly not up to the council to be advising the Police on whether or not they should be objecting. Also the comment about the business not being sustainable because of a short lease is no reason to object, luckily the licencing committee won’t take that into consideration, if they did then half the bars and restaurants in Cheshire East would never get a licence to start with.
The fact is that The Yard can continue doing what they are doing without any licence being required, yet I would image to take their business to the next step they have decided to go down the licence route which is not only good for them as a business but also for the local residents who do have issues, if the licencing committee agrees with you they can impose restrictions such as doors and windows closed after 2300, music not above a certain level etc and monitor it, now surely that’s got to be better than no regulation?
The dynamics of the village are changing, regardless of how many (or few) people complain about it, the mix of retail and hospitality will continue to change, we will see less and less retail coming to the village, not just because of the rents but also because our buying habits have changed and its hard for a new retailer to make money. Now we can either go down the route of Wilmslow which is becoming a retail ghost town ( 6 businesses folded on the high St since Jan) or we can embrace a business that wants to do something different. Also a village as vibrant and busy as Alderley means the price of property remains high (when was the last time a property near London Rd was on the market for any length of time!)
There will always be people who complain about any change in the village, luckily there are also residents who will shout about embracing change and push for it to happen, especially for a business like The Yard.
My understanding was that my complaint to the licensing committee is substantial enough as a complaint. As you have just suggested they are currently operating without a music license, does this mean I am entitled to complain to the Police every-time an event is held? Because if thats what it takes, I will do it!
I think its ridiculous how anyone can put up this "people always object to change" argument. Aren't there enough plots on London road and the Central Business Area for live music and alcohol? It doesn't need to be 30ft from my front door! I think its amazing how the deli section of the business got approved for the location it has. And the previous events are far from the poetry readings, craft lessons, yoga and other "wholistic" activities that were (falsely in my opinion) put in the initial marketing.
Permission has been granted for the Deli, so there is nothing Anyone can do about that, but if the owners are so conscientious of the neighbours, they will find a other location for their live music venue, and this time may I suggest not in the center of a residential area!
If Alderley is to continue on this route of becoming party town we must all come together to prevent venues opening up on residential streets and contain late night businesses within London Road.
There are obviously some who live very close to the Yard, they have obvious concerns. However, in such a densely populated area, why is it that only eleven of them object and do so by sending in copies of someone else's letter.
Then we have Heather Wienholt, the manager of a successful AE bakery business who lives on Redesmere. She is separated from The Yard by a railway line and a set of allotments. Sadly she is living in Alderley Edge, which seems to for some reason escape the inverse square law of wave transmission. So is kept awake by noise that her neighbour, Councillor Conner, can only hear in her garden when alerted to it by someone else. We are told that The Yard is not a sustainable business; could it be that Heather does not see it that way and feels it is unwelcome competition. It would not surprise me, as the Yard seems to be forward thinking, in touch with their market and happy to innovate rather than follow in family formula.
Then, of course, we have Councillor Keegan. A man who works tirelessly and altruistically for the people of AE. It is however interesting that the only time he gets really behind something is when there is a development involved. Allotments into car parks, Festival Hall into medical centre, Alderley Edge Schools for girls, or his grand plan for Cheshire East council of developments that would net the council huge revenue. None of which were for Mr Keegans personal gain. Mr Keegan has never sent and email or mentioned to any other CE councillor that he wanted a pay back. Neither has he followed the reports findings and looked at why his actions may have lead to the distrust that other council members and voting population may have of him.
Plus for the record - I do not see the yard as competition to my bakery and I welcome quality food based businesses ( even other bakeries) to the village as this attracts customers for us all.
I bet it was a lot more peaceful it them days and the closed at 6.00pm !
1st off, a reaponse of 11 people from residents in direct effect from the Yard is quite a large reaponse. Eapecially when the only leagal responsibility of the applicant is to post a minute advert in a local paper informing people of their intent! If it handent been pointed out to me by my future mother-in-law I would have been oblivious to the application!
2nd, the copy of the letter was sent as a formal objection in writing is what is required. The letter was written as a guide of how to object, or indeed to be signed and posted by the resident.
The truth of the matter is, that enough letters were sent for the licensing comittee to invite us to oppose this at the hearing. And that is exactly what I intend to do!
What is your vested interest in this case?
The "Bar and Grill" was much quieter when my Gt Uncle James Bilsborough traded hardware from the premises.
Also, "The Grill On The Edge" would have been a great deal less vibrant when it was Broadbents Furniture store - with an Undertakers business on the premises!
But things move on, for better or worse.
The kind of business that the Pickering family have created in "The Yard" is a valuable and worthy addition to the culinary and social scene in Alderley Edge. It is not a booze-based establishment - far from it. It offers something that cant be found anywhere else in either Alderley Edge or Wilmslow....... perhaps a move to the old Alderley Rose premises???
The evening gigs are not the rowdy events that many would have you believe - they are more like a cultural event with a discerning audience, who care about music & do not get drunk and run though the streets shouting (unlike the patrons of the venues on London Road).
I sure the past tenants of the Yard - Garages and taxi ranks were equally disruptive to many people and I know there are many people who have lived in Alderley Edge for a long time and are resistant to change of any sorts, and while many recent changes are not for the best (Tesco), but some are, and the Yard is one of them and is something to be welcomed with open arms.
I wish everyone at the Yard the very best in their application
Unfortunately I couldn't attend but I do hope that a way forward can be found to ensure the future of The Yards musical evenings whilst not compromising the peace and quiet of local residents too much / too often.