A license for a new short-term let has been granted despite more than 31 local objections.
The application to operate a holiday let in a flat in Stockbridge Colonies was approved by councillors.
Objectors to the licence application spoke at the meeting on Tuesday. One resident who lives nearby saying: “My objections are not about the management of the property itself.
“They are more about principle and the suitability of short term lets in the Stockbridge Colonies and the impact they have on the community.”
Another objector noted that the neighbourhood had a strong community feel, with many elderly residents who rely on the support of long-term neighbours.
They also mentioned concerns over noise coming from the property, but said later they had not reported it to the council, due to not knowing what process to follow.
Ross Armstrong, a licensing solicitor representing the applicant, said many of the 31 objections were made from people living relatively far from the proposed site of the let.
He also said the property was small, and measures were being put in place to detect excess noise being made by any guests who would stay there.
Committee convener, Joanna Mowat, said there were “strong feelings” in areas of the city about the suitability of properties for short-term letting.
But she added: “What we do not have, despite a lot of objections, is objections linking any behaviour to the operation of this property to their objections.
“I can understand the strength of feeling, I can understand the concern, there are bits that can challenge this committee about how this process works.
“But what we have in front of us today is a competent application, and despite the objections there are no grounds for refusal I can see.”
Councillors on the committee have to work within narrow boundaries set out in legislation when deciding to approve or deny a short-term let licence application.
Cllr Chas Booth put forward a position that the applicant was not “fit and proper” to hold the licence, referencing complaints about noise in one objector’s comments.
However, no other councillors supported Cllr Booth’s position, and the committee agreed to grant the short term let licence.
By Joseph Sullivan Local Democracy Reporter
