District leaders have approved plans for a new wedding venue near Corbridge, despite safety concerns about the potential impact on a “dangerous intersection” nearby.
The new venue is expected to accommodate up to 245 people, including staff, at the same time, raising concerns about traffic congestion on roads and other services
But while Northumberland County Council development chiefs accepted that the proposals would “intensify” activity in the area, they concluded that the impact would not be big enough to be rejected.
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“If the applicant or the company wants to accommodate 200 guests, this is not the right building and it is not the right location,” said Nicola Allen, lawyer specializing in planning law for families who live near the location, against the project.
“It’s not just the building, it’s the movement of traffic, people, the intensification of activity – the frequency of events is unlimited, so events can take place every day.
“Of course the traffic will arrive in a very short time window for events and there will obviously be a very significant increase on the local roads.” [and] there will be problems with a very dangerous turn to the [B6321] Aydonstrasse. “
According to a report for the county council’s Tynedale Local Area Council, the application required permission to build up to seven guest rooms on the property northeast of Corbridge between B6318 Military Road and B6321 Aydon Road, as well as expand an existing building to create a wedding location .
Settlements have been made to a similar proposal to build a wedding venue at the former Linnels Coach House near Hexham, which was turned down on fears that it could lead to a halt in use on nearby roads.
However, city councils have been told that the location of the latest proposals, which are expected to eventually create up to 50 jobs, avoided many of the previous problems.
“I don’t think I’ve ever overtaken a car on this road, so the traffic will be on, a big increase compared to the current level of traffic, but still very little traffic,” said Nick Oliver, District Administrator for Corbridge.
“On the positive side of the ledger, there is a great opportunity, an economic opportunity in terms of promoting rural businesses.
“Bizarrely, there aren’t many places to get married in Corbridge, there is a beautiful, impressive historic church in the village, but not many places to go afterwards.
“I am sure that local companies in the valley will have the opportunity to become suppliers, and then of course there will also be job opportunities. Overall, I would welcome this company despite the concerns of the neighbors in the area. “
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