A holiday park has been given the green light to expand its outdoor cinema and poolside offering despite fears it could ruin the peace of nearby homes.
New Forest District Council’s licensing sub-committee approved a variation sought by Sandy Balls Holiday Village, near Godshill, which would allow for greater flexibility over the number of outdoor films that can be screened.
The application also included plans for a mobile bar in the outdoor swimming-pool area.
Away Resorts Ltd sought permission to sell alcohol there between 10am and 10pm, seven days a week, allowing holidaymakers to buy drinks on site and take them into the poolside area.
Godshill Parish Council objected to the application, warning that residents had already endured “persistent noise” from the holiday park over several years.
Speaking at the licensing meeting on August 25, parish councillor Richard Fell said the proposal would damage residents’ ability to enjoy their homes in what he described as a “peaceful and tranquil” part of the New Forest National Park.
He told the committee: “Persistent noise associated with Sandy Balls has undermined that expectation, with residents reporting considerable stress and frustration over many years.”
Cllr Fell said one resident had recently felt compelled to make six complaints in a single month.
He added that Sandy Balls was not an isolated commercial leisure site, but was located within a sensitive area of the national park.
However, representatives for the holiday park said there was no evidence that the cinema’s operation had caused problems sufficient to justify refusing the application.
Jon Wallsgrove, speaking for Sandy Balls, said police and environmental health officers had been consulted and neither had objected.
He said the outdoor cinema had operated at the park for around nine years, with just two complaints made to environmental health during that period.
Mr Wallsgrove said those complaints had not been passed on to Sandy Balls, adding the site had operated “effectively” without substantiated complaints.
He said the licence variation was intended to give managers flexibility rather than commit the park to showing four films every week.
He added: “It does not mean that there will be four films shown a week.”.
Mr Wallsgrove also argued that visitors would be able to use the park’s bars and take drinks to the pool, bringing a significant benefit to Away Resorts, which runs Sandy Balls.
He said the change would not increase the number of people staying at the holiday park.
In its written decision, the sub-committee said it could only consider evidence relevant to the application, and found the evidence presented did not provide sufficient grounds for refusal.
The application was granted.
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