Day centres could become party venues, residents fear

At the centre of the controversy is an application by West Berkshire Council, which owns the building in Ramsbury Terrace, for change of use from D1 to D2 status.
Roger Brown, of nearby Ramsbury Drive, said: “The application would allow the council to rent it out for stag nights, hen nights, discotheques, parties, bingo and so on, seven nights a week until 11pm.
The application, which also relates to Phoenix Resource centre in Newbury and Greenfield House Resource centre in Calcot and posted on West Berkshire Council website’s planning portal, states: “The change of use will enable (the council) to open up the resource centres and promote partnership working and community presence....the council aims to enable local community groups, private and voluntary sector social care providers and individuals the opportunity to carry out their work and activities alongside us by using and renting our rooms and facilities.”
However Mr Brown claimed: “I think that the real reason for this application is actually summed up in the planning application itself: ‘The rentals charged will be affordable to hirers, but will enable the council to meet the high running costs of these purpose built, fully accessible, specialist facilities.’
“Having managed to run a highly successful old folks day centre into the ground, the council now wants to recoup some of its self–inflicted losses by damaging the lives of the residents who live within earshot of this proposal.”
He added: “There is no reassurance as to the use that the building will be put to - in fact the opening and closing times directly lead to the conclusion that it will be used for late night entertainment, or why else specify 11pm? Not many womens’ institute meetings take place until 11pm.
“This usage and operating times are wholly inappropriate for such noisy activities in a quiet area. The council blandly states that the centre manager can control this activity via the use of lease and hire agreements. This is fatuous, mealy mouthed and totally unenforceable - who will be present to regulate the activities and enforce the closing times? The centre may close at 11pm but we all know the activity outside will continue until much later. I urge all residents within amplified earshot of this monstrous proposal to submit an objection.”
Several other residents have lodged formal objections, with some citing existing traffic and car parking problems which, they fear, would be exacerbated.
And Jill Greenland of Aldbourne Close added: “Additionally there is likely to be noise going on well into the night and the type of disruptive behaviour associated with a licensed premise.”
Susan and James Trapp, also of Aldbourne Close, said: “This is not appropriate for the surrounding residential area because of an increase in noise levels, increased lighting and traffic. There are a number of other more suitable premises in Hungerford that can be regarded as vibrant community hubs - the Croft Hall, British Legion Hall, Corn Exchange, Methodist and Congregational Church Halls, Herongate, Riverside Suite at the Bear Hotel to name but a few of them, and therefore we suggest that this application for a change of use is unnecessary.
Comments, for and against, can be made on the council website’s planning portal, using reference 12/01620/FUL.