Residents 'at breaking point' over nuisance on match days win battle to block venue licence

Residents who say they are ‘at breaking point’ over football fans littering and urinating in the streets near their homes have won their battle to prevent plans for a venue to hold evening functions. Trafford’s licensing committee turned down an application from childcare charity the Walton Cottage Education Trust to hold weddings and birthday parties at its building on Stretford Road, just yards from nearby houses.

Some 20 residents - backed by three Old Trafford councillors - turned up at the town hall to object to the trust’s plans. Trust representatives had told the licensing panel that they needed to put on functions in order to raise cash to run the charity, which offers after-school clubs and childcare.

Residents voiced concerns over inadequate parking for visitors to the venue and the fact that the access to the building was down a private road. Licensing consultant Charles Denny, speaking for the trust, told the panel that noise levels and litter nuisance from the venue would be ‘managed’ on an hourly basis if the the application was granted.

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He said: “This is an application which will enable the Walton Cottage Educational Trust to produce charitable funds - that is the overriding purpose of this application. We are doing everything we can - and think of - to avoid noise nuisance. We will only allow entry and exit through the front door.”

However, along with residents, Old Trafford Coun Sophie Taylor voiced strong objections to the application. She argued: “The application states that people will attend by invitation only or as friends of the Walton Cottage Education Trust, for example, birthday parties and other such events.

“Yet there has been a ticketed event for a 21st birthday party that was advertised on Eventbrite which is a public forum. We have spoken to numerous residents in recent weeks who have already had to deal with large numbers of people particularly on [Manchester United] match days that is already a considerable blight and burden to people in that area.

“There is also associated litter and urination in the streets and other disorder that residents have had to contend with for a very long time. And there has been a little bit of conflict with the current occupants which has made the residents feel ill at ease and the source of considerable anxiety.”

And she went on: “This area is at breaking point. Residents have continued to suffer. We’ve got two major sports venues in very close proximity. They are particularly affected by Manchester United, but also by the [Lancashire] cricket ground which are metres away.”

Refusing the application, chair of the panel Coun Sarah Haughey told the trust: “We are not satisfied that your application promotes any of the four licensing objectives.” The licensing objectives are the prevention of crime and disorder; public safety, prevention of public nuisance and the protection of children from harm.

She also pointed out that the trust does not have planning permission for a change of use to an entertainment venue. “There is no proper provision for vehicle and pedestrian access and we are not satisfied regarding the criteria to becoming a member of the trust [which would qualify people to book function events],” she said.

Walton Cottage is based in Greater Manchester and has been running more than 60 years. It was set up in response to the Windrush generation in the 1950s. In the 1970s it was provided with a property by renowned stage and screen actor Vanessa Redgrave in Whalley Range.