A BAND is feeling brassed off after its application for a new home was rejected by New Forest District Council amid fears about noise.

Councillors on the planning development control committee struck the wrong chord with Hyde Band when they refused its outline application for a brand new band hall at Newtown Honey Farm, South Gorley.

The band has used a first floor room in the Victoria Rooms in Bridge Street, Fordingbridge, for practice on Mondays and Fridays for many years, but now feels the time has come for a change.

The hall they envisage will fit in with the agricultural landscape and have storage facilities and tuition rooms.

Band chairman John Cook said: "The land at the proposed site has been offered free of charge subject to us getting planning permission."

The council received four letters of objection, citing increased activity, noise and vehicles, additional road danger to commoners' animals and lack of parking.

There were also claims it would be an alien feature in the national park and there were a number of under-used village halls in the area.

Councillors refused permission on the grounds the development would not be of direct benefit to the rural community, the roads are of inadequate width for extra traffic and the loss of trees would be detrimental to the woodland location.

Mr Cook said the band is now discussing the issues with planning officers and would submit a new application.

The band is now 110 years old with membership exceeding 100.

"We have, this year, over 25 young musicians in the training band," he said.

Musicians play at numerous charity concerts in and around the area each year and any money that is earned goes towards paying for the practice rooms, sheet music and musical instruments.

First published: August 16, 2005