VILLAGERS say an Olympic gold medallist’s plan to turn his Grade II listed Chepstow house into a wedding venue will mean they will be afflicted by revellers “throughout the day and night”.
Geraint Thomas, who was part of the victorious British team pursuit line-up at the London Olympics in 2012 and Beijing Olympics in 2008, wants to change St Tewdric’s House in Mathern into a top wedding attraction.
Mr Thomas and his wife, Sara, held their wedding reception at the house in October, with guests including Welsh rugby star George North and Tour de France winner Chris Froome. Residents complained to police and Monmouthshire council over noise and a firework display.
A Gwent Police spokeswoman confirmed today that an officer had attended the house after two phone calls were made on Saturday, October 3 – but they had found music being played was not at an excessive level.
Others said a coach bringing guests got stuck in a narrow lane and had to reverse into Mathern village.
They fear disruption like that could hamper their lives if the Thomas’ proposal gets the go-ahead and would turn Mathern “into an air-polluted, overused road” with “nuisance and noise 24 hours a day”.
In total 33 objections were received by Monmouthshire council and Monmouth MP David Davies also sent a comment “respectfully requesting” that people’s concerns be considered.
Monmouthshire council back the plan both as ways to maintain and improve the Italianate villa, stable block and coach house – all of which were built in the mid-1840s – and to bring tourists to the county.
A council report said residents’ fears of noise and disruption was based on “conjecture” and that if the proposed venue is properly managed there should be no problems with loud music or anti-social behaviour. It adds that since selling alcohol and music would need to be granted by the authority, they would be closely monitored anyway.
According to an architect’s report completed in October, the listed status, which covers the house, stable block, gate-piers, gates and garden walls, was granted in 2000. The Thomases bought the house last summer from its previous owners, who had restored it.
The report, compiled by Cardiff-based architects Downs Merrifield, said improvements to the stable block would help accommodate large wedding parties.
This would “avoid repeatedly hiring-in a marquee for this purpose which would have a detrimental impact on the setting of the main house,” the document says.
It is also anticipated there would be five guest bedrooms in the main house and three in the lodge. Other amendments include building a 50-space car park.
Monmouthshire council’s planning committee will make a final decision on the proposal at a meeting next Tuesday. The authority’s officers have said they are in favour of development on the grounds it is used only as a wedding venue and that work starts within five years.
Also music must only be played between 9am and 1am and any amplified music should only be played in buildings between 11am and midnight. No music should be played outside any of the buildings at any time, council officers have said.
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