Northampton restaurant faces battle to expand after complaints about noise

Moldova restaurant, Great Russell Street. Northampton. Image: Google Maps

A bid to open a second function room at a restaurant in Northampton is facing an objection from the council’s environmental health department due to previous complaints about noise.

Restaurant Moldova in Great Russell Street has applied to Northampton Borough Council to vary the premises licence by expanding the licensable area allowing the use of a second function room.

The licensing committee is due to meet on Thursday (March 18) to discuss whether or not to grant the application.

However, a report to the committee states the application is currently not permitted by way of a condition on the premises licence as stipulated by the Environmental Health department in the interests of the prevention of public nuisance.

The condition relates to complaints being made in the past about noise. The rear wall of the premises is adjacent to the wall of residential properties behind.

The hearing was due to take place on December 8 when an application was made by the applicant’s representative to adjourn the hearing for further noise assessments to be made.

The report states Environmental Health is objecting to the application.

It states: ‘We have concerns about use of the additional areas for licensable activities. There is a condition on the existing licence prohibiting use of function room 2 for licensable activities due to historical complaints about noise. The rear wall of Moldova is adjacent to the wall of residential properties behind.

‘At the time of the previous premises licence application, the applicant was made aware of the work that would be required at the premises to mitigate against noise transfer to nearby properties and to support any changes to licence conditions.

‘There is no information regarding prevention of public nuisance in this application and we have not received confirmation that this mitigation work has been carried out. For information, a recent complaint was received in September 2020.

‘We therefore object to any variation of the licence to include use of the additional areas.’