Fears of 'alcohol-fuelled shouting' from restaurant customers in at Cotswolds village suffering from overtourism
Summary
There are fears a new pavilion restaurant in a Cotswold village “suffering from overtourism” will lead to “alcohol-fuelled” noise from shouting customers. Plans for the new building in the rear garden of the Dial House Hotel and Restaurant in Bourton-on-the-Water have sparked strong objections from villagers.
Details
Dial House (Bourton) Limited wants permission from Cotswold District Council for the new single-storey building in the rear garden of the High Street property which would be used as a restaurant. But nearby residents and Bourton’s parish council have objected amid concerns over the noise disturbance an increase in customers could lead to.
Wayne Harris, one of the objectors, said: “I have no doubt that the applicant will be making the case for development as a catalyst for increased business within the village. “Bourton-on-the-Water is however suffering from considerable ‘overtourism’ making the very character of the village that visitors come to see increasingly diminished.
“There are more than enough eateries and drinking establishments in the village without the addition of this pavilion; especially with it being so close to residential properties.” He also went on to request the removal of the “wigwams” and temporary WC as soon as possible. Another resident, Lorraine Banks, asked that planners visit the area in the evening to see just how quiet it actually is.
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“Why also is yet another restaurant needed in a village that is saturated with eating places that struggle to attract staff? “If this permission is granted, it would make me wonder what actually is the point of a conservation area if it can be so easily disregarded by owners who not only do not live in the village but do not even appear to live in the UK.
“The garden needs to be restored to what it is supposed to be, a garden that the residents of the hotel can enjoy and not destroy the peace and quiet of the surrounding properties.” Andrew Jackson, another villager, said experience with previous proposals indicates that noise has been a considerable issue. “We are apprehensive that the current plans may exacerbate this problem,” he said.
He went on to say that residents “find it unacceptable that the noise survey was conducted during the winter months”.
“The volume of music emanating from the premises is such that even our newly installed double glazing, intended to mitigate noise, has proven ineffective.” And he added that “during warmer periods, the intrusive noise from the beer garden and, more recently, a monthly gathering of supercars on Sunday mornings, prevents us from enjoying our own garden in peace.