A “ridiculous” holiday let has been refused permission after neighbours accused the plans of “tacking the mickey.”
The proposals, for a six-person short term holiday home at Elm Road in Seaforth attracted concern from several local residents when submitted to Sefton Council in August.
Applications had previously been made to convert the property into a house of multiple occupation. One application, which also included plans for an extension to the building, was refused in November 2020 after 11 objections were received from neighbours concerned about anti-social behaviour and the impact on others living in the street.
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A further application in June 2021, to convert the house into a three-unit HMO was more successful, although at the time residents objected and claimed it was being used for Air BnB.
The application to convert to a holiday let was submitted in August this year, with papers submitted to Sefton Council stating that one of the downstairs rooms would be converted to a bedroom with four further bedrooms upstairs – all with single beds and a maximum occupancy of six people.
Multiple objections were received to the plans, including one which stated; “This is a residential area where there is a lot of families young and old, we are not in Blackpool or Southport, where holiday lets or AIRBNB are a thriving business.”
The objector added they thought the application “took the [mickey] out of the council and all the hard work the people of this area have done to improve and take away the stigma of Seaforth being the dumping ground for anything.”
Other objections received included claims it was already being used as an Air BnB, with at times up to 15 people occupying the property. Concerns around anti social behaviour and noise levels were also expressed.
Two local residents described the plans as “ridiculous” and another spoke of the property currently being left in a “disgrace” of a state with “disgusting bins with rotting waste left for months.”
Rejecting the plans in a report released last week, officers stated they would “have an unacceptable impact on the living conditions of neighbouring properties.”
Referring to a website listing for the property which allowed bookings for up to 12 people the report noted there didn’t appear to be any restriction to prevent over occupancy. The listing also said the property was suitable for a long term let, meaning it could effectively function as a HMO, if approval was granted.
Ultimately, officers said the proposals would have a “significant detrimental impact on the living conditions of existing residents due to the increased activity at the property, including antisocial behaviour” and issued a decision notice refusing permission for the change of use.
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