Concerns have been raised that plans to hold outdoor cinema events and summer Pimm’s and cocktails at Houghton Mill and Waterclose Meadows, will lead to “delinquent behaviour”.

The National Trust has applied to Huntingdonshire District Council for a licence to be able to hold “family friendly events”, and to be able to sell alcohol.

While the police have not raised any concerns about the plans, some neighbours have lodged objections to the application.

The National Trust has applied to be able to show films indoors and outdoors, Monday to Sunday, between 9am and 11.30pm.

It has asked to be able to provide late-night refreshment indoors and outdoors, Monday to Sunday, 11pm to 11.30pm; and to be able to supply alcohol for consumption on and off the premises, Monday to Sunday, 9am to 11.30pm.

The hours the premises is open to the public has been requested to be from 8am to midnight, Monday to Sunday.

READ MORE: Village Focus on Houghton and Wyton

In its application the National Trust said: “The premises is a family friendly National Trust site that offers visitors beautiful walks and camping facilities, as well as a tearoom.

“The premises is now looking to apply for a premises licence in order to provide family friendly events for the local villagers to attend.

“Either something like a cinema evening or theatre production, as well as provide further variety of drinks being sold in the shop and tearoom.

“Additionally, in the summer the outside area would be utilised to provide an ice cream bike and a food truck that serves simple things like Pimm’s, bottled ale, and canned cocktails. By licensing the outdoor area this provides more flexibility.

“We have considered the effects of the application, taken into consideration the council’s licensing policy, and consulted with the authorities prior to submission.

“We do not feel that our application would have any adverse effect on the licensing objectives and the application will be implementing conditions to ensure the licensing objectives are upheld.”

Cambridgeshire Constabulary and environmental health at the district council both raised no concerns about the National Trust’s plans.

However, concerns have been raised by 40 members of the public.

One person said: “The proposals are unacceptable for any number of reasons, not least the traffic on Mill Street which is already unbearable and would increase dramatically.

“The sale of alcohol for consumption on and off the site will without any doubt result in delinquent behaviour already witnessed at Houghton Mill and significantly the lock.”

Some argued they had not been asked about their views on the plans by the National Trust, prior to it submitting its application.

One person said: “I believe it to be entirely inappropriate for the National Trust to make this application.

“The National Trust states that this application will provide amenity for the local community.

“I am not aware of any canvassing of the community to establish support for this.

“Indeed when the National Trust has hosted theatre productions in the Mill Grounds, there has been little or no local advertising of the events and therefore I would suggest little intention to provide local benefit.”

The district council’s licensing sub-committee is due to meet on June 29, to consider the application.