NEIGHBOURS have raised fears about potential loud noise and anti-social behaviour from a Mid Devon campsite if its bid for an alcohol and music licence is granted.

Lakemoor, in Chawleigh, is a rustic five-acre family-run campsite with glamping facilities, as well as a camping field and 10 caravan stands.

Set near the River Taw, the business also has a smallholding that includes goats, chickens, ducks, geese and pigs as well as fruit trees and vegetable patches.

But the owners have applied for a licence to sell alcohol as well as to play live music inside and outside a marquee, with permission for recorded music also being requested.

Some who live nearby fear increased disturbance and worry about the possibility of anti-social behaviour due to alcohol sales.

But the owners have stressed they have strict and clear policies about any guests that cause a disturbance, adding that alcohol sales will be pre-ordered, and for guests and visitors to the campsite and smallholding only.

Nearby residents Jennifer and Angus Palmer fear that if up to 150 people were on the site, then disturbances are likely.

“Ourselves and the surrounding neighbours are highly likely to suffer anti-social behaviour disruption at the site, in a normally quiet and tranquil area,” the pair wrote in their objection to the proposal.

“Regarding the provision of late night refreshments and alcohol, both on and off the premises through the night (11pm to 9am); such activities typically attract larger numbers and potentially rowdy behaviour, potential crime and disorder.”

The pair added that their proximity to Lakemoor meant they had already experienced noise disruption “twice in the past”, causing them to speak to the owners.

“The noise travels down the valley, well past our property to the point you could clearly hear one event in particular (a live music event they held) at the far boundary/ bottom of our field some 300 metres away,” they said.

“The nature of a live music venue or amplified sound, throughout the day and extending late into the night causes significant concern, particularly given the extent and duration of the application (9am to 11pm Monday to Sunday).

“This is wholly unacceptable to us and would represent a significant intrusion to our quiet enjoyment of our property and grounds.”

Fellow neighbours James and Gleny Brookes, said they lived around 400 metres from the campsite and due to the area’s rural setting, it was “mostly silent” in the evenings.

“As a result, any noise generated will travel across the whole area,” they wrote in their objection letter.

“We have been disturbed in the past by activities from the Lakemoor site, however, due to the infrequency, we consider the situation to be acceptable.

“We are concerned that this will change as a result of the licence application, as the potential for the performance of live music, or the playing of recorded music, and the provision of late-night refreshments and the supply of alcohol seven days a week, would inevitably lead to unacceptable levels of noise.”

The pair suggested a restriction on the number of events per year and the hours in which music can be played.

Claire Dell, the applicant, said alcohol sales will be “pre-ordered and collected from the house, where ID will be required”.

“All alcohol will be stored in the house, which is not accessible to guests staying on site,” she said.

The application seeks the sale of alcohol between 9am to 11pm seven days a week, for consumption both on- and off-premises. Late-night refreshments would also be available between 11pm and 9am if the application is granted.

Both live and record music would be restricted between 9am and 11pm, and capacity would be up to 150 people, including staff and entertainers.

“We are a family run campsite for families and we have terms and conditions on our website, which guests agree to at the time of booking, which refer to public safety, prevention of public nuisance, and state that guests who do not adhere to these terms and conditions will be removed from the premises,” Ms Dell said.

“We have signs around our site to remind guests of quiet times of 11pm to 8am.”

Ms Dell added through her training, she was aware of the Challenge 25 scheme, and knew what type of ID was required for alcohol sales. An alcohol sales refusal register would also be kept to monitor the instances of under-18s trying to purchase drink.

Mid Devon District Council’s licensing sub-committee will discuss the application when it next meets.