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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
National
Stephanie Wareham & Adam May

Neighbours erect angry signs warning not to get married at popular wedding venue

Furious locals greeted loved-up couples who were heading to their wedding venue with angry signs.

Disgruntled villagers have put up hand-made signs telling couples who were heading to a stately home for their big day that they're "not welcome".

It's after claims that some wedding guests were weeing in their gardens - and it seems like they've all had enough.

One sign in particular reads: "Brides and grooms not welcome in Oxnead" and is pitched near the 16th century estate of Oxnead Hall in Aylsham, Norfolk.

Others include: "No more weddings we've had enough" and: "Exclusive? More than 100 weddings this year".

Nearby residents have also accused wedding guests of "relieving themselves in gardens", "wandering through yards" and keeping them up by playing music late at night, HullLive reports.

A sign reads: 'Brides and grooms not welcome in Oxnead' as local villagers say they have had enough (Eastern Daily Press / SWNS)

Susi and Roger Crane, who own a 500-acre farm that surrounds the wedding venue, have erected three signs in their front garden, which is near the venue's car park.

“The weddings are really having a big impact on our residents’ lives, and that’s why we are up in arms about it," said Roger.

Susi added: "Our residents are repeatedly disturbed by loud music way in to the night, even in their beds. One poor lady puts her children to bed to the sound of Michael Jackson.

"They are unable to sit outside their homes in the summer and are often disturbed by shouting and laughing. Guests have wandered through the yard and even relieved themselves in their gardens.

Local residents have been making their views clear (East Anglia News Service)

"They have left glasses in gardens and wandered down to the livery which houses 26 horses. They were granted permission to hold unlimited weddings, and we don’t know how that came to be.

"We have tried to challenge that with Broadland district council, but haven’t got very far.”

Another neighbour Lorna Crook said she's had to move her bedroom from the front to the back of her house because of the noise after a ceremony.

Oxnead Hall in Norfolk is a popular wedding venue (East Anglia News Service)

“When it was once or twice a week, you could deal with that," she said, "but it’s up to six a week. We all have to get up early and go to work.”

But Beverley Aspinall, who owns Oxnead Hall with her husband David, has said that she is "aware of the issues" and is "doing everything we possibly can" to prevent the issues.

She said: “I feel sorry for those poor couples that have been through so much, that [the objectors] have chosen this way of making their feelings known rather than coming to us and working collaboratively.

The stately home boasts spectacular views (East Anglia News Service)

“We are aware [of the issues] and we are doing everything we possibly can to minimise them. We’d be enormously grateful if anyone could help us find solutions.

“We’ve asked for meetings and we’re trying to work collaboratively, but I have to say it has been very difficult and stressful for us - we’ve had staff resignations because of the way they’ve been treated.”

A Broadland District Council spokesperson said: “The development was considered to be acceptable when planning permission was granted, subject to conditions.

"The council is currently investigating an enforcement complaint regarding the breach of the noise condition on the site.

"This has not yet been concluded and the council will respond directly to the complainant once we have investigated this matter.”

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