Filey bar plan for outdoor drinking at Banks Lounge rejected

​Banks Lounge Bar, at 5 Murray Street in Filey, will not be allowed to create an outdoor drinking area at the rear of the Victorian-era bank, which was converted in 2018.

​Tracy Fleet applied to remove a condition that was originally put in place to prevent noise disturbance to nearby residential properties, especially during the evening and nighttime hours.

​The outdoor site could have been used until 9.30pm and would have had space for up to 35 people.

​Officers noted that the rear yard is in “close proximity to dwellings, and its use as an external drinking area is likely to result in elevated noise levels from patrons, including raised voices, laughter, and general social activity”.

​A council planning report highlighted that “these types of noises are difficult to control and can be particularly intrusive during quieter hours”, adding that “the removal of this condition would significantly increase the risk of loss of residential amenity due to noise, and environmental health considers this to be unacceptable”.

​One representation was received from a member of the public who supported the proposal on the grounds that the bar is “a well-run establishment and should be encouraged to support businesses”.

​Planners said the proposal to remove the condition prohibiting the use of the external area had the potential to introduce levels of disturbance to the area not previously experienced from the site.

​Officers concluded that “given the direct proximity of the seating area to the residential neighbours to the rear, it is considered that the capacity would be excessively high, and in combination with the proposed operation hours late into the evening, the proposed removal of the condition from the original permission restricting the outdoor area would have an unfavourable relationship with the residential dwellings”.

​They said that approval of the plan would result in “undue noise and disturbance, the sum of which would be to cause significant harm impacts on the occupants of these neighbouring dwellings”.

​The application was rejected by North Yorkshire Council.