A Welsh live music venue has agreed to a number of conditions after it was found to be "excessively loud" in a review of the premises which took place following a series of noise complaints.
Environmental health officers from Neath Port Talbot Council carried out a noise monitoring programme at the Other Place bar in Pontardawe in 2022. While hundreds of people started a petition in defence of the bar, which has become known locally for its live music and events, a number of complaints from nearby residents about the level of noise sparked the review.
It was concluded by council officers, who carried out noise monitoring at the bar over the summer months last year, that the complaints made by residents were valid. You can read more of our stories from Neath Port Talbot here, or subscribe to our newsletter here.
The team reported that nuisance occurred on approximately seven occasions. One of those was an excessively loud event in the beer garden where the band playing had speakers facing the boundary with Ynysderw Road, something that was in breach of the licence. The report read: "The nuisance is comprised of excessively loud electronically amplified music, usually with drums, electric guitars and singing, and usually lasts for approximately two hours. The officers have not been present for all events, due to staffing issues, but on those occasions where they have been present, nuisance has been witnessed."
The report added that the primary concern for the environmental health team was "repeated, excessively loud music emanating from the premises". As well as the high levels of noise, other issues in the report included pub goers being granted entry to the premises after hours, and some customers hanging around late at night shouting and talking loudly in an area with a high percentage of older residents and working families. The report went on: "It is the opinion of the officers of the environmental health team that the structure and location of this premises is not suitable for the type of entertainment the licensee wishes to provide."
While live music is expected to return to the venue in the future, the licence holder will now have to undertake a Noise Impact Assessment to present to council officers before this can happen. They will also have to adhere to a number of conditions including no regulated entertainment taking place outside the hours of 8am and 11pm, and no external amplified sound in the external areas of the premises, including the beer garden and car park. It was noted however that this could be amended for certain special events such as the Pontardawe Festival, which takes place in the town each year.
While all parties - including representatives from the licence holder, residents, and the environmental health team - said they were sorry that the issue had reached this stage, all in attendance were happy to move forward provided the new conditions were met.
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