TV antiques expert Charles Hanson granted permission to host film screenings on Staffordshire field despite neighbours' concerns

Bishton Hall is the Staffordshire home of Hansons Auctioneers, having previously been used as St Bede’s School for several decades.

The venue, which also hosts local businesses, a tearoom and a range of events during the year, had been renting a neighbouring field from a farmer to provide parking space. It has now purchased the field and hopes to use it for family events.

Mr Hanson asked for the premises licence previously granted for Bishton Hall in 2021 to be extended to cover the field area, to enable activities such as live and recorded music, film screenings and alcohol sales to take place there. But his application to Stafford Borough Council met with concerns from three neighbours living near the hall.

One said: “Since the original licence was granted there have been events held at the hall in the property gardens – the noise from these events was sheltered to some extent by the surrounding trees and mature shrubs but we are still disturbed by the noise of some events. If the location is moved to the adjoining field there is very little coverage between the field and our property, and that of our neighbours, so we are concerned that there will be more disturbance.

“At a recent photographic event field guns were used to enact a miliary scene; these were very loud and disturbed our pets. We had no prior warning of this from the hall and if this had been directly across the road and not in the gardens the noise would have had even more impact.”

Another said: “They have used the field in front of the hall to hold auctions and the auctioneer seems to think that the louder the PA system, the more bids he will get. This is very disruptive.

“If they are allowed to move events onto the next door field the disruption will significantly increase. That field is used as an overflow car park and we frequently have cars reversing onto our drive because they have missed the entrance to the car park – if the field is to be used for events, where are all the cars going to park?

“Bellamour Lane is a very narrow country lane with only just enough room for cars to pass each other. If cars started parking in the lane it would cause chaos.”

Stafford Borough Council’s licensing sub-committee met to consider the premises licence variation on Wednesday (September 24). Mr Hanson did not attend the hearing and there were no objectors present.

A report to the sub-committee said: “As part of the process, it has come to light that upon reviewing the representations, no public nuisance complaints have been raised against the premises within the last four years. The last complaint was received in August 2021 (subsequently closed in September 2021) following a wedding that took place under extended hours, licensed through a Temporary Event Notice.

“The increased noise from an auctioneer’s PA system, based on information from the licence holder, related to the filming of a television programme (Bargain Hunt) at the premises to raise money for Children In Need.”

Hollie Stansfield, manager and head events co-ordinator at Bishton Hall, told the hearing a demonstration cannon was used at the photographic event and police were notified beforehand. She added: “It was a one-off – it’s not something that’s going to happen every day.

“We bought the field in the view we could keep the traffic lighter in Bishton and keep vehicles off the road. We have started to look at family events we can hold there and we have had an enquiry for a mini children’s festival on a Saturday and Sunday, with music and a bouncy castle.

“It became apparent the events would need a premises licence. The events we have held in the last three years at the hall are craft markets, a classic car meet with 50 cars and we have had some musical events like Beyond the Barricade, but the field has been used for parking to stop the overflow of traffic.

“I’m really conscientious of what I do with the place. I’m always ringing and asking questions, making sure we’re doing the right thing.

“We’re here to help at the end of the day, we not trying to make enemies of the residents. We want to make sure they’re happy and I’m on site most days – I’m always there if there are any worries or concerns.

“We have no immediate plans for events. It’s something we want to do if someone comes to us and I want to help the residents.”

The panel allowed the field to be included in the area of licensable activities at Bishton Hall. The applicant was encouraged to notify immediate neighbours of upcoming events in writing, including start and end times, a month in advance and to increase signage on the road to deter hall visitors from parking on the roadside.