LICENSING chiefs have given the go ahead for a county cider farm to host music and drinking events.

Villagers had objected to plans for music and drinking to be allowed at Gillow Manor in St Owens Cross, near Ross-on-Wye, as they said the amount of extra traffic visiting the site would make them prisoners in their own homes.

Gillow Cider wanted permission to allow live and recorded music to be played from 9am to 1am on Fridays and Saturdays.

They also wanted permission for the sale and consumption of alcohol and provide food during these hours and between 9am and 11pm Sunday to Thursday.

Some 12 people along with the parish council have objected to the proposals raising concerns over the noise, public safety and the traffic this would bring to the area.

But after discussions with environmental health officers and local residents Gillow Cider agreed to reduce their live music to 11pm from Sunday to Thursday and 11.30pm from Friday to Saturday.

They also agreed that the premises licence holder must immediately comply with any requests by the authorities to adjust noise levels.

And all doors and windows shall be kept closed after 11pm except and loudspeakers will not be placed in the entrance lobby or any external part of the premises.

Licensing chairman Alan Seldon said: “Decisions like this are always quite taxing for us in trying to be fair to all parties.

“But the committee has heard from the environmental health team, members of the public and the applicant and received written representations.

“We do note the concern among members of the public however, the evidence would suggest this is mainly about the cider festival and its fallout.

“We know that under the Live Music Act 2012 the applicant may have live music up until 11pm without a specific licence.

“The conditions agreed between the applicant and the environmental health team will be applied to the licence.”