Colchester The Friar pub's outdoor area plans rejected

Colchester Council has rejected a bid for a covered seating area to be built at The Friar, in St Christopher Road, Colchester.

A decision notice says the proposed seating area would cause “harm to the character and appearance of the wider area”.

The council acknowledged the benefits the work would bring to the business but felt there were “serious concerns” about increased noise.

Boozer - The Friar in St Christopher Road (Image: Google)

Pub bosses previously submitted blueprints to install a pergola and wooden covered structure which were rejected by planning officers in 2022.

A planning inspector rejected an appeal because the proposed changes would be “harmful”, adding a marquee would be a better option.

What did residents think about the plans?

Several residents wrote to the planning authority to object to the latest application, with some neighbours voicing their concerns about changes to the pub’s car park as part of the project.

One resident feared the proposed changes would make parking in the area a “nightmare”.

“Cars are abandoned particularly over a weekend meaning residents can’t park easily in the road they live in,” they wrote.

“The other issue is noise; it is already noisy without utilising outdoor space making the residential area suffer from noise levels.

“Outside space has and will encourage further antisocial behaviour as per previous objections with previous planning applications that were not granted. Nothing has changed.”

Denied - the pub's planning application has been refused (Image: Google)

Another nearby resident acknowledged the latest bid did “go some way to mitigating the two main issues” raised by the planning inspector but felt a new outdoor seating area would still be detrimental to “the living conditions of the occupiers of neighbouring properties”.

They didn’t call for a total rejection of the bid, however, instead asking for several conditions to be enforced.

They wrote: “There have been multiple occasions when individuals using The Friar pub car park have damaged the wall bordering St Christopher Court.

“The financial and emotional costs of the accidents have a significant impact on the residents of St Christopher Court.”

The concerned neighbour suggested installing bollards and designated parking bays.

They also called on pub bosses to consider arranging staff awareness training to minimise disturbances.