Former bank to be turned into entertainment venue

Plans to convert a former bank into a live entertainment venue in a town have been approved despite concerns raised by residents and councillors.

East Herts District Council's planning committee voted in favour of the plans for the former Barclays bank in Sawbridgeworth, Hertfordshire.

The venue, which is expected to be known as The Vault, would sell alcohol and hot food, but still needs licensing approval from the council, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service.

While it could have operated as a restaurant without planning permission, agreement from the council was needed for a change of use to become a live entertainment venue or bar.

Council officers had recommended that permission be granted, citing a "significant public benefit" from bringing the Grade II listed building back into public use.

But some councillors, including some planning committee members, and members of the public raised concerns about the plans.

One member of the public, Sarah Glover, was among those to speak at the meeting and raised issue about the venue being opposite a primary school.

She warned that "anti-social behaviour" may follow the opening of the venue and said: "Should we as a community have to put up with social disorder?"

Objectors also raised concerns about the impact of noise on nearby residents, about a lack of parking and the plan for dealing with rubbish from the venue.

Angus Parsad-Wyatt, the councillor for Sawbridgeworth ward, said the plans would "fundamentally change the character of this quiet, family-oriented street".

Yvonne Estop, the councillor Bishop's Stortford Central, said: "If you live in a town centre, which effectively people do, then you have to expect that there's activity as well as residential."

The applicant did not attend the meeting to answer questions from councillors.

Councillors did vote to add a condition requiring the venue to avoid deliveries around school opening and closing times.

They also voted in favour of granting listed building consent for changes to be made to the inside of the building.

The proposed opening hours are 08:00 until 23:00 from Sunday to Thursday, and 08:00 until midnight on Fridays and Saturdays.

Follow Beds, Herts and Bucks news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.