WEST Devon planners have given the thumbs down to an application to create a rooftop beer garden at a town centre club in Tavistock ? overturning a recommendation by officers to grant the facility . The application concerned the Royal British Legion Club in King Street. It sparked a number of objections from residents and the town council, plus an 18-name petition in opposition to the proposal. There were fears that users would overlook neighbouring properties, and there would be an increase in noise and anti-social behaviour in an area which was mainly residential. The petition objected mainly to the use of the proposed beer garden within unsociable hours. Planning officer Mark Hancock told the committee at its meeting in Okehampton last week that problems regarding overlooking from the proposed beer garden could be minimised by the installation of a trellis and fence. He said the applicant was willing to impose restrictions on when the beer garden could be used. ?It would seem reasonable to allow the site to be used between the hours of 11am and 9pm. This would reduce the impact on adjoining residents,? he said. He said use of an existing area within an existing club would not increase the number of licensed premises in the area. It was difficult, therefore, to see how the proposal would lead to an increase in anti-social behaviour. ?The site is a private club, where only members and bona-fide guests are allowed and is not open to the public, so there is an element of control to users of the site,? said Mr Hancock. ?It is officers? opinion that the proposal would not have a significantly detrimental impact upon the character and appearance of the Listed Building and Conservation Area,? he said. But the committee rejected the officer?s recommendation to grant the proposal and refused it on grounds it would have a detrimental impact on the amenities of neighbours, particularly with regard to noise, and its impact on the Conservation Area.
