Council planners turn down bid for drive-in cinema in village

Planning officials have turned down a developer’s application to open a drive-in cinema in Warboys.

Jason Dean, of Werrington, in Peterborough, applied to Huntingdonshire District Council in July for permission to use a site in Fenside Road to set up a drive-in cinema with capacity for up to 70 cars.

According to Mr Dean’s submission, the venue would have had an “American Western” theme and stables currently located on site would be converted into storage and for a concessions shop.

But Warboys Parish Council objected to the plans, saying that the proposed site was “unsuitable for an intensive use” and also lacking in amenities for power, water, and drainage.

Parish councillors also said the proposal could have had “an adverse impact” on local wildlife.

Planning officials at the district council agreed with the parish council, particularly noting that the single-track entrance to the site was not fit for the number of vehicles intended for the site.

Andy Moffat, head of development at the district council, said in his letter of refusal: “The proposed business would operate predominantly during twilight hours in a relatively isolated and rural location where background noise levels are generally low.

“The proposed use would result in periods of mass vehicular movement which will significantly change the acoustic character of the area at these times and will cause harm to the amenity of residents through noise disturbance.”

Mr Moffat added that there was a “reasonable likelihood” of protected species being present at the site, which would, he said, be adversely affected by the proposal.

Mr Dean has six months to appeal the decision to the Planning Inspectorate.