Aylesbury bar holding demonstration after concerns over new homes nearby

The Craftyard say they worry the flats could lead to noise complaints that would force them to change how they operate.

The Aylesbury bar announced on social media this week that they'd be holding a peaceful demonstration tomorrow (19/09) from 2pm onwards, saying they want potential buyers of the flats "to know exactly what they are moving next to before they buy".

It comes after the official opening of The County Apartments, former Bucks County Council offices in Walton Street, earlier this year on May 30th. The offices were converted into 46 one and two bedroom homes delivered by Oakford Homes Ltd, with the council's announcement (external) upon opening saying it marked "an important step forward in Buckinghamshire Council’s wider plans to regenerate the town and attract future investment".

Owner Sarah Cook told Bucks Radio the demonstration is about "protecting an established local businesses from being forced to change because new homes have been built immediately next to us

"More specifically, it's about raising awareness before people buy the flats, so purchasers understand that they are choosing to live beside a long established busy licensed venue that already has music, customers, events and late openings."

Sarah added that she thinks its important that people make "an informed decision before they buy" and that people should know "craftyard was here first and we should not be forced to change after nine years because new houses are being built next door". 

She explained that Craftyard's concerns also originate from an alleged lack of consideration in the planning process: "we also made a representation when the application was live, explaining in detail that we are a licensed venue with a large garden and we hold DJ nights at weekend. But despite this, we were never contacted by the council."

According to Sarah, Craftyard is also not mentioned once in a 41 page acoustics report commissioned by the council for the flats, undertaken by Anderson Acoustics in 2020, who do have record of being used by Oakfield Homes for "the old county offices" on Walton Street under client testimonials (external). 

She said "so it does not appear that the agent of change principle, which requires new developments to properly account for existing noise source Nearby, was never properly considered. We’ve operated since 2018 and at no point does it appear that there’s been any consideration given to us, really."

"So we’re just hugely disappointed that the agent of change principle wasn't considered properly. Our representation wasn't considered properly. No noise report - updated report - has taken place. And therefore when the new occupants are living there they are going to complain about noise nuisance, it's absolutely inevitable because we're six meters away from their boundary. Therefore our business model will have to change unrecognisably."

Sarah explained that late hours is a part of that business model, with their license permitting them to have live music and DJ events - which they've held every weekend for the last 5 years - and that they're open until 2am. She says the majority of their customers come in late and use their facilities until that time, with the revenue the business gains being based "all around those operational hours". 

In regard to noise, Sarah said it's not just about the music as it might be caused by customers out in the garden talking, recycling bottles, people leaving the venue and taxis, all of which she thinks "will be expected to change a lot". 

Sarah also worries about the impact of any potential changes on staff if hours were reduced and the impact on the community, saying:

"We've been part of Aylesbury community since 2018. We have a lot of people that visit our venue, we’re extremely popular and I think that if that's taken away, the community will suffer, especially the younger groups because they won't have any place to go. I mean, we're are an integral part of the night time economy."

When asked about what kind of reassurance she'd like from the Council or the house builders themselves, Sarah said "there's no reassurance that they can give me now. I mean, the applications were submitted, you know, a few years ago. I don't know where we sit legally with that and I think the damage has already been done.

"We should have been considered months ago, years ago, when the application was submitted. And I feel that they’ve failed to do that."

Bucks Radio has reached out to Buckinghamshire Council for comment.