A WINE bar once part-owned by the deputy mayor of Barry has been refused planning permission – despite already being open since June.

The Watering Hole, in St Nicholas Road, Barry, was opened on June 14 by Leighton Rowlands, the current Barry deputy mayor and former mayor of the Vale of Glamorgan.

But the wine bar and coffee shop was opened without planning permission which led to an investigation by the Vale of Glamorgan Council. 

The council’s planning committee has now refused permission for the wine bar on the grounds that it would mean “unacceptable noise and disturbance” for neighbours.

It means the council will begin enforcement action to stop the building being used as a coffee shop and wine bar.

Cllr Rowlands has previously said he resigned as a business owner of The Watering Hole on June 19 – five days after it opened, with his former business parter Sam Lewis taking over.

A total of 25 people raised concerns about The Watering Hole, complaining about noise and disturbance from the premises, and parking overspill.

Barry Town Council objected to the plans, saying “the proposed development would have a detrimental effect upon the amenities that local residents currently enjoy due to possible noise, disturbance and traffic levels”.

Shared Regulatory Services, the licensing authority for the Vale of Glamorgan, also raised concerns about the Watering Hole.

A premises licence had been granted for The Watering Hole, but the change of use of the building was not authorised by Vale of Glamorgan Council’s planning department.

The meeting heard there has been a number of complaints made about “shouting, raised voices, barking dogs and live music” coming from The Watering Hole.

Cllr Rowlands is a member of the Planning Committee but left the meeting when the Watering Hole application was discussed.

Committee member, Cllr Neil Thomas told the meeting: “It’s disappointing that a member of the council who was fully aware of planning rules has been involved in the premature opening of this bar.”

The proposed opening hours for The Watering Hole were from 10am to 11pm weekdays and 10am to 12am Saturday.

Andrew Nunn, neighbourhood services officer for SRS, told the Vale council in a letter: “This application site is not situated in an area normally considered to be part of the night time economy. I feel therefore that it would not be suitable in a wholly residential environment due to potential noise issues.”

A council report says: “The change of use has greatly increased the otherwise low potential for noise disturbance and anti-social behaviour in this, and other, nearby residential streets during the late evening and the early hours of the morning.

“Noise from vehicle movements and the comings and goings of the patrons as they leave the establishment, particularly at closing time, are therefore likely to have a continuing significant effect on this otherwise relatively quiet location.”