Pop star tries to solve hotel noise row

25 May 2007

A PETITION to save the Parkhill Hotel at Oulton has been launched - and the advice of 1980s singer Feargal Sharkey sought - to try to solve a wrangle over noise.

The Journal revealed last week how hotel owner David Truman had become embroiled in a year-long dispute with Waveney council after being served with a noise abatement notice.

The district council was contacted because of complaints about the noise coming from events held in a marquee in the grounds, and Mr Truman has been told by environmental officials to keep noise levels down.

This week, he revealed his business had been halved by the notice and the dispute could force him to close.

“Over the years I have worked hard to build up my business and it has become very popular,” he said.

“I have a commercial obligation to organise the weddings that I have on my books, but, without any more functions and further losses, I could be out of business next week.”

Weddings have been held in a marquee at the hotel since 1981, but now these are in jeopardy - despite his claim that the council had allowed homes to be built on land near the building in the following years.

One of the affected residents, Stella Bostock, said: “If people lived here they would know how intrusive it is. It affects us every weekend in the summer, and the music is so loud that parents cannot get children to sleep.”

This week, however, there was a ray of light for Mr Truman as a petition supporting him was launched by Judith and Charles Goddard, who live in one of the new houses which back on to the hotel.

In a letter to The Journal explaining why, they say: “We all moved into the area with the full knowledge that the hotel was situated close by. What right have we to move into the area and expect Mr Truman to change the way he runs his business?”

Waveney MP Bob Blizzard also revealed he had been speaking to former Undertones frontman Feargal Sharkey, who is now the chairman of the government's Live Music Forum task force.

Mr Blizzard said he had put hours of work into trying to help mediate in the dispute.

“I've tried to broker some discussions and a meeting with Waveney to resolve this, as I've been involved in speaking to Mr Truman and trying to sort something for months and months,” he said.

“Feargal Sharkey is a key supporter of live music, so, after speaking to him about this, he was prepared to come to Lowestoft and sit round a table with the council to offer some ideas.”

Phil Harris, spokesman for the council, said the matter was in the hands of its legal team and it could not comment further.

To add your name to the petition email the Goddards at: goddard455@aol.com