A controversial bid for a new bar at a South Cumbrian brewery on an industrial estate has been given the go-ahead.
Lakeland Brewhouse Ltd asked to sell alcohol seven days a week between the hours of 11am and 11pm at its unit on Lightburn Trading Estate in Ulverston.
The district council’s licensing sub-committee deliberated for more than an hour before announcing its decision on Monday.
It heard from residents who were concerned about potential disturbance to nearby properties.
Dr Brian McQuillin said there was a risk that streets and gardens would be used as toilets by drinkers at the Lakeland Brewhouse Tap.
He said: “When you go onto the industrial estate and when you leave it, they have got to go through our residential area.
Louise Clegg said she was concerned about potential increase in traffic on the estate. She said: “Not just cars, but people walking to and from.”
She said the residential area would ‘take the brunt’ of cars being left overnight and felt people would be ‘unduly disturbed’ and experience a ‘high level of anxiety’.
She added: “Keep the town alive. Keep the venues in the town centre. Not on an industrial estate surrounded by residents.”
Cllr David Webster, who was chairing the meeting, asked Kirsty Ridge, director of Lakeland Brewhouse Ltd: “Is it a bar with a brewery, or is it a brewery with a bar attached?”
Ms Ridge said: “The brewery is the majority business. The Tap is literally there so people can come along and have a drink and see the brewery in operation.”
She said it was anticipated the bar would create two jobs and seat 48 people. The planned opening hours were 3pm to 10.30pm.
Ms Ridge responded to residents’ concerns about potential problems caused by drinkers. “It is not and never will be our intention to cause nuisance and upset,” she said.
“If there’s loads of disruption and lots of complaints to environmental health, the licence will be looked at again.”
