Shropshire social club's decking will have to come down
Decking put up at the side of a social club will have to come down, Shropshire councillors have said.
The structure put up at Cressage Social Club in the summer, did not have planning permission and led to complaints from villagers about noise.
Now Shropshire Council's central planning committee has refused official permission after a planning application was submitted.
Planning officer, Tim Rogers, said the decking was about five metre square with concrete steps leading up to it from a pavement on Sheinton Road.
He said although local concerns about potential noise and disturbance were understandable there were not so significant, especially with a restriction on the hours of use to 9pm, to warrant refusal of consent.
Cressage, Harley and Sheinton Parish Council objected saying it was worried about pedestrian safety and also the noise impact on neighbours, particularly in the summer when householders have windows open or are in their gardens.
David Sellars from the social club told the meeting that the average age of people using the club was 60 plus and there was no anti-social behaviour. There had been no police incidents in his memory, he said.
"It is the only place we can put an outdoor area for the club."
Several councillors expressed concerns about the design of the decking saying it needed an extra barrier slat around the edge and also a gate stopping people from falling down the concrete steps.
Councillor Kevin Purdy said that the road the steps led down to was busy and the design of the decking was poor.
Councillor Keith Roberts said: "This decking needs to be totally scrapped and designed properly to proper safety standards."
Councillors voted to refuse retrospective planning permission.
