Residents of an idyllic and quiet Welsh hamlet were left ruffled after rowdy revellers partied in a house used as a holiday let without planning permission. Arosfa Lodge, an eight-bedroom property in Pump Lane, Axton, near Holywell in Flintshire, has been operating as holiday accommodation without planning consent as the owners were not aware they needed it.
Neighbours have complained of loud music and parties that continued into the early hours of the morning. Bottles were thrown over the hedge into next door's garden where a young girl was camping, broken glasses were strewn on the nearby lane and some of the party-goers reportedly "flashed" at them. When the residents objected to their behaviour they were claim they were met by a barrage of profanities, reports North Wales Live.
On two occasions the police were called because of the anti-social behaviour but no action was taken. Now the homeowner, Dean Scott, has applied to Flintshire County Council for permission for holiday use for 185 days a year and as his family's residence for the remainder. They have also since taken effective action to prevent further anti-social behaviour at the property.
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Mr Scott and his wife Sara, who own an even larger holiday property in nearby Lloc, bought Arosfa Lodge in 2016 intending to live there indefinitely, but for personal reasons they then moved to Chester. It was in 2018 that the neighbours realised that it was being used as holiday accommodation, able to accommodate up to 16 people.
There were disagreements with Mr Scott over various issues including repairs to the unadopted lane. Neighbours Helen Worthy and Nikki Foulkes have sought support from Delyn MP Rob Roberts in their bid to stop the activity and he has raised the matter with the county council.
“There have been many loud house parties whereby we’ve had to call the police, and people were shouting, swearing and screaming at a time when my son was going through cancer treatment,” Nikki told North Wales Live. “This is not only at night but during the day, which affects our ability to sit outside in our gardens.”
Meanwhile, Helen said she had twice had to ask people to turn the music down. “As a single mum that is very intimidating when facing 16 inebriated people, and I know my neighbours have had to visit in the early hours to complain,” she said.
In addition to the behaviour, the objectors say the lane is unsuitable for so many vehicles, especially as they often leave in convoy. Mr Scott, who ran a training consultancy until 2019, when he was banned for four years from being a director of a company for financial mismanagement - his wife Sara was banned for three years - said he had not realised that he required planning consent for change of use to holiday accommodation.
He said that Arosfa Lodge, which is let through a number of agencies, had never been advertised as a party venue and the majority of visitors were family groups. "I do everything possible to ensure that people behave appropriately," he said.
On occasions he has travelled from Chester in the early hours of the morning to tell the tenants that their behaviour was unacceptable. Since April 2021 guests have been given a strict set of rules which, if breached, could result in them forfeiting their £500 "neighbourhood bond".
"Since then I have had no complaints," he said. Sound monitoring equipment has been installed, and Mr Scott added: "There will be a deduction made for a physical visit to the property by myself or staff member, where a guest has failed to bring the noise to an acceptable level or not responded to our polite requests."
A statement by planning consultant Cadnant Planning which accompanies the application states: "There is a strict 'no parties or event' rule which should discourage stag or hen dos from booking the site." Flintshire Council said: "The owners of this property had been operating it as a holiday let and thought they did not need planning permission.
"When we contacted them, they submitted a planning application to rectify the breach. They intend to operate the property as holiday let for 185 days in a calendar year. The application needs to go to Planning Committee – this will most likely be in February.
"The council is aware that there was some anti-social behaviour prior to lockdown. However, measures were put in place by Community & Business Protection colleagues who have confirmed that they have not received any more recent complaints about anti-social behaviour at this property."
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