Noise concerns raised for homes next to Weymouth nightclub

Dorset Council is considering an application to convert the former Rum Shack bar into two houses and two maisonettes, three of the properties with two bedrooms and one with a single bedroom.

The site is next to The Closet nightclub in Maiden Street with the former bar entrance in Church Passage – the premises made up of three buildings, a former warehouse on the corner and two townhouses on Church Passage.

The Closet on Maiden Street

Each of the town houses would have an open plan living/dining /kitchen area and two bedrooms with the change in floor levels within the building resulting in a first-floor landing and shower room to the rear at a split level between the ground and second floors.

The maisonettes would provide a one-bedroom unit at ground and first floor level and a two-bedroom unit on the second floor above with bedrooms at the attic level.

At a meeting of Weymouth Town Council's planning and licensing committee, councillors raised concerns that no plans were made to prevent the noise from a nightclub next door from reaching the homes.

The Closet is situated next to the former bar and plays music until the early hours of the mornings on weekends.

Cllr Luke Wakeling said: "My concern is proximity to certain other venues that are still operating. Building four houses next door to the closet may affect the viability of one of our remaining nightclubs.

"I don't see any acoustic plans, I suggest they haven't thought this through.

"It is the same building, music carries through walls.

"It happens all the time. They build houses next to a nightclub and then complain a few years later there is a nightclub next door and they could have seen that coming.

"I would like to see an acoustic assessment and the developer putting efforts in to soundproof the property."

The town council decided to tell Dorset Council in its comments on the application: "We don't believe there has been an adequate assessment of acoustics. We would like to see the developer provide a soundproofing plan to keep the noise out of these flats.