Neighbours of a holiday park in Cornwall have spoken of their concerns over plans to add extended late night refreshments and a fish and chip shop – just two of several proposed changes to its licence.

Lizard Point Holiday Park near Mullion has applied to Cornwall Council’s licensing department to vary its premises licence.

You can read more about the meeting that has now taken place here: Decision on Lizard Point Holiday Park change to alcohol hours and chip shop

The Parkdean Resorts park changed its name to Lizard Point Holiday Park - from the previous Mullion Park - in 2020 and one of the changes would be rename it on the premises licence, having originally been put as 'Lizard Point By Parkdean Resorts Complex'. 

It also wants to amend its layout plans to reconfigure outlets within the park.

Two of the most contentious elements are to add late night refreshments indoors between 11pm and 1am seven days a week (with an extension on New Year’s Eve) and to include a fish and chip shop to the licensed area for indoor late night refreshments, again from 11pm to 1am, with the sale of alcohol from 8am to 1am.

Other proposed variations are an indoor sporting licence from 8am to 1am seven days a week (with an extension on New Year’s Eve) and to amend part of a previously imposed condition over the reporting of crime and disorderly behaviour.

The condition previously read: “An incident register will be kept at the premises and any incidents of crime or disorderly behaviour will be recorded.

“The register will record the date and time of the incident, the nature of the incident, the names of the persons involved (if known), the person making the entry and any action taken by the premises licence holder or designated premises supervisor.

“The register will be kept for a minimum of 12 months and made available for inspection by any officer of the responsible authorities.”

However, the park wants to alter the wording to remove the section over recording of specific details, names and action taken, to instead read: “A record will be kept (written/electronic) of any incidents of crime or disorder at the premises.

“Records shall be retained for a minimum period of 12 months and will be made available upon request to an authorised officer of the local authority or police.” However, neighbours fear that adding to the late night refreshments could cause more noise.

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In a written objection, one couple said: “We have become accustomed to the general noise that emanates from the park over the holiday season. However, it has become apparent that over the last few years noise levels have increased, especially when the bars close and people leave that area to return to their accommodation.

“We are now more often woken in the early hours by people shouting and screaming as they leave the bar area either in excitement or in a domestic argument situation. We have had cause to phone the police when we were woken up by someone shouting that their arm was being broken.

“The variance says that the food outlet is for late night refreshment indoors only, so does that mean it is a sit-down restaurant or is it in fact a takeaway? If it is a takeaway we fear that by allowing a food outlet to operate until 0100 hours it will encourage people to mill around outside the licensed area to eat their food and it will increase the noise pollution.

“This can be seen in most town centres on a weekend where people leave the pubs and clubs and congregate around late-night food establishments to purchase and eat their food, weather dependent.

“Another aggravating factor is that the park wishes to sell alcohol from the proposed food outlet which again could mean that people could wish to sit around outside the licensed area to continue drinking.”

With regards to the proposed change in wording over reporting complaints, they added: “Unfortunately whenever we had to call the landline number it was rarely answered and on one occasion when it was answered it was answered by a member of staff who was on holiday himself, the call had been diverted to his mobile.

“Indeed I am aware of an instance very recently where a neighbour had cause to phone the park using the dedicated number and it got answered by a former member of staff who had not worked at the park for two years.

“We therefore feel that the park do not take seriously enough their obligations when a condition is attached to their licence.”

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Another family, who own a campsite nearby, has written: “If people are able to buy food and drink and leave the premises at this hour with it, the possibility is that they will then be outside eating and drinking and making noise that won’t be contained inside.

“The noise issues also affect our own customers who come to this Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty for a peaceful holiday in the countryside.”

A third neighbour has written: “There is a point where the holiday park should take responsibility for the people and the areas surrounding the park not just close its eyes from the other side of the gate.”

A decision will be taken by Cornwall Council’s Licensing Act Sub Committee this Wednesday (April 17).

The Packet has contacted Parkdean for a response.