Residents have complained about noise and disturbance at a popular south Liverpool venue that is hoping to make changes.
Love and Rockets on Lark Lane lodged a planning application with Liverpool Council to put up a metal pergola at the side of the building, replacing an existing timber frame, to act as an external eating and drinking area operating until 10pm daily. However, local people have complained about the impact of such a development on the busy street that lies nearby to some residential properties.
Changes to the site have been left in limbo however, after councillors could not come to an agreement as to whether to allow the new structure to go ahead. Opponents of the plan told a heated Liverpool Council planning meeting this morning how their lives have been impacted by the existing wooden structure on site - which was found to be in breach of planning regulations in August 2020 - and their vehement objections to an amended pergola on the premises.
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Resident Sam Livingstone told the committee how currently people living around Love and Rockets “are unable to sleep or relax in our own homes” as a result of noise from the venue and allowing the application to go ahead would have a “direct impact” on the quality of life, making it “unworkable”. Ms Livingstone said those living around Love and Rockets, owned by city businessman Robert Gutmann, had experienced “mental and physical health issues” owing to noise from the bar and claimed “lives are being devastated”.
Planning agent Murray Graham told the committee how the applicant had sought to work through problems with the proposals during the planning process and address them with council officers and relevant parties. This did not sway other objectors including Eric Higgins who claimed there had been “intolerable noise from intoxicated customers shouting to be heard” at Love and Rockets, while Liz McGarvey added: “If this goes ahead, our lives will be substantially damaged.”
The application has been subject to multiple consultations, with objections received from Liverpool Riverside MP Kim Johnson and ward councillors throughout the process, including Cllr Tom Crone. He told the meeting: “Lark Lane is one of Liverpool’s gems and we should be careful to protect it.”
He added that should the plans have gone ahead, it would “erode people’s quality of life, upset the balance of residential homes and businesses” and called on the committee to “show some courage” and reject it. The meeting heard how the existing timber pergola structure on site at Love and Rockets did not receive planning permission and their removal would improve the appearance and address highways issues.
A report submitted to councillors added how “the simple design of the structure, metal finish and glazed roof result in a structure that appears light weight and subservient to the existing building with the metal finish being of higher quality and more in keeping with the character of the building and surrounding area”. A heated debate between members was told Merseyside Police and environmental health officials had not objected to proposals for the adaptation.
Members voted seven to two against the recommendation to approve the plans with conditions. But the committee heard the plans will be brought back at a later date.
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