Neighbours fear Eastbourne care home’s licensing bid would create an ‘intolerable noise’ nuisance
A care home’s bid to amend its premises licence is set to go in front of Eastbourne councillors next week.
On Tuesday (November 17), an Eastbourne Borough Council licensing panel is set to consider a variation application from the Chaseley Trust (CT) — an independent charity which runs a 55-bed care home in South Cliff for people with neurological disabilities.
Through its application, the care home is seeking the ability to sell alcohol and hold music performances between midday and 10pm seven days per week.
It has said this extended licence will be used both to provide entertainment to residents and for “occasional fundraising events”.
A licensing hearing has been called as result of representations from residents of South Cliff Tower (SCT) — a 72-unit apartment building, which directly neighbours the care home.
One of these representations had been submitted jointly by the apartment building’s board of directors. In it, board member Peter Storey wrote: “SCT has 72 apartments in total and around 100 or so residents. They place great value on the peace and quiet that SCT provides and there is overwhelming resident opposition to this application.
“There have already been SCT resident complaints about the noise that the CT live music and discotheque has created in the past. This takes place by their front garden terrace and the noise is clearly audible in SCT.
“At a recent meeting between two of our directors and CT senior management to discuss noise nuisance, we were told this discotheque only takes place on one Friday a month. This application, if approved, would allow this activity to take place every night and would create an intolerable noise nuisance for our residents.”
The letter, which concludes by calling on the council to reject the application, also raises concerns that the Chaseley Trust intends to hire out its facilities “as a revenue raising exercise.”
The council has also received 13 representations from individual residents of South Cliff Tower, which all raise similar concerns.
The CT says: “We recognise that South Cliff Tower is situated in very close proximity to our bar and recreation hub and that residents have a legitimate interest in protecting the peaceful enjoyment of their homes.
“Occasional fundraising events, community gatherings, live performances and social functions provide valuable opportunities for residents to enjoy music, celebrate special occasions, maintain social connections and participate in activities that might otherwise be inaccessible to them.
“Fundraising events also play an important part in supporting the long-term sustainability of the charity and enabling us to maintain and improve our facilities.”
The spokesperson goes on to say the organisation is not planning “to establish a commercial entertainment venue” but does want the ability to hold “occasional private, charitable and community-based events”.
In other responses, the charity has said these could include Rotary Club and Chamber of Commerce events and other private functions.
In its responses the CT has offered various additional conditions including a noise complaints system.
The care home’s existing premises licence allows: the sale of alcohol between 1pm and 5pm seven days each week; a one-hour live music performance each Wednesday; and a weekly film screening on Saturday evenings.
Built into this existing licence is the ability to sell alcohol sales until 10pm on some occasions, including a monthly Friday evening social event for residents.