A WEDDING venue in Blakemere has been given the go-ahead to host more events despite concerns over late night noise.

Cheshire Falconry previously used temporary event notices (TENs) to host weddings under the brand Cheshire Woodland Weddings, but it was limited to 15 TENs a year.

Now, Cheshire West and Chester Council has granted the business a new licence allowing the premises to be open seven days a week – from 9am to midnight – meaning more weddings can now be hosted at the site.

The new licence also allows alcohol to be sold on the premises and recorded music to be played indoors and outdoors from 11am to 11.30pm.

A report explaining the reasons for CWAC’s decision said: “The committee considered [Steve Birchall, director at Cheshire Falconry] to be a responsible and successful operator.

“There was no history of complaints, the responsible authorities [police and environmental health] had made no representations and only one local resident had made a representation.

“There was no reason to refuse the application and local residents had the protection of the review system in the event of problems arising at the premises.”

A CWAC licensing meeting last Tuesday heard that Cheshire Falconry was looking to host around 30 weddings a year inside the venue’s soundproofed barn.

Mr Birchall insisted there had never been police involvement at any events at the 250-capacity venue, and that the business had to protect nesting birds and wildlife in the falconry.

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He added: “We are not in any shape or form a wedding factory.”

But Cllr Charles Fifield, Conservative CWAC member for Weaver and Cuddington, warned residents would be hit by noise on weeknights, while neighbour Neil White insisted residents should ‘get the peace and quiet which they are entitled to’.