Outdoor music challenge at Lord C

An Audlem pub's plans to erect a new canopy for smokers has hit a hitch.

Cheshire East gave the go-ahead for plans to replace the umbrellas outside the Lord Combermere with a slate roof last month.

But a planning condition included with the approval was that 'No live or recorded music shall be played in the outside area defined by the development hereby approved at any time."

The reason given for imposing the condition was to 'safeguard the amenities of the adjoining premises and the area' as outlined in the Local Plan of the former Crewe and Nantwich Borough Council.

The Lord C has sometimes used the 'smokers terrace' as a stage for live music events and the imposition of the planning condition could threaten to be a serious setback for the Audlem village music scene.

Now Markden Homes Ltd, which is acting for the pub on planning matters, has officially asked that the planning condition be removed and replaced with a more suitable one.

An application to Cheshire East Council says: "The landlord obtains, throughout the year, temporary licenses in conjunction with music festivals in the village for outdoor music, live and recorded. These are always granted. This permission would conflict with these licenses."

They have asked that the condition be changed to: "Live and recorded music can only be played outdoors in line with terms of the premises' license or a temporary event notice."

The Lord C not only hold occasional live music concerts in the car park overlooked by the terrace but the pub provides one of the main venues for the hugely popular annual Audlem Music Festival.

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