Hen and stag party noise concerns over holiday cabin plans

Plans for holiday cabins to be built near a Welsh market town have led to noise concerns, with fears the accommodation could attract hen and stag parties to the area.

Earlier this year, Tyler Richards from Kidderminster in Worcestershire submitted a planning application to Powys council for four holiday cabins on land south of Bwlch-y-Ffridd, near Newtown, Powys.

The application will go before its planning committee for a decision on 3 September.

But members of Aberhafesp community council said they had "great concerns" over noise and have asked, if the application was granted, for conditions to be attached to "prevent group bookings".

In Febuary, Aberhafesp community council discussed the proposal and questioned how the site would be "managed" and "policed", as people would be using the accommodation to "enjoy themselves".

Councillors also raised concerns from residents in the area, who said a previous application for cabins to be built on the land stated the holiday lets would be "family orientated", but claimed this application was "catering for larger, possible party groups".

"If the application was to be granted, could there be a condition attached to it to prevent group bookings [such as] hen/stag parties?", the community council added.

Ted Maury of Hughes Architects said the new application is for four one-bed small cabins, "thereby offering the same number of beds" as a "previously agreed" application for two two-bed holiday pods.

He said: "The proposals represent a sustainable use of land, that will enrich the Newtown area through contributing sensitively to the tourism industry."

Rhian Griffiths, senior planning officer at Powys County Council, said: "The application has been assessed and considered on its compliance with planning policy."

Addressing the concerns raised by Aberhafesp community council and local residents, Griffiths said: "Whilst this concern is noted, it is unfortunately not a planning matter which can be taken into consideration."

She said "restricting the type of bookings that can be made to avoid groups" was "not considered to meet the necessary tests for applying conditions" and, therefore, she would be recommending that the council approve the scheme.