Neighbours claim they have had to confront rowdy revellers en masse at a former Bath B&B they say is being used as a nightclub.
The former Roman City Guest House in Raby Place | Photo: NCA
Despite failing to secure planning permission, Raby Place residents say the grade II-listed former Roman City Guest House has been used as a party house for the last year.
Bath Hot Houses is hedging its bets by appealing the refusal of its original plans for a 25-bed holiday let and submitting scaled-back proposals to sleep a dozen people.
The latest plans say power to the property will be cut off if guests continue to make too much noise but neighbours claim the retrospective response could cause chaos.
H Coury, one of 35 objectors, said: “The guests do not care about the local residents, many of whom are elderly and vulnerable. They are there for a short stay creating damage and noise til all hours of the morning forcing residents who are unable to sleep to have to confront them en masse in the early hours when they are drunk and don’t care because they know there is no comeback.”
Lauren Bryan added: “It’s more a commercial nightclub, under the disguise of an Airbnb. The neon lighting that beams out onto the street at night is like a nightclub.
“The centre of Bath is a good place for a bar or nightclub, with proper licensing, full-time management on-site and planning permission in place – not a quiet residential area.”
Noise was a major concern for many of the 90 residents who objected to the previous application. Residents complained that Raby Place was “unliveable” after the former B&B reopened as Steam House, and said the applicant’s threat of a £500 fine for a noise complaint was not much of a deterrent if it was split 25 ways.
Opposing the latest plans, Valencia Haynes said the noise from the property had been unbearable and neighbours’ attempts to get guests to keep down the “nightclub music” had been completely ignored.
She said cutting the power in the middle of the night could cause chaos and risk someone falling down the stairs.
Raby Place resident Andrew Hudson added: “Having had to put up with the current 25-plus party house for this last year or so we all know the noise, late-night disturbance and rubbish that is generated is totally unacceptable in a residential area.
“The proposed use is not compatible with existing uses i.e. residential area. Approval will also set a precedent, so it will be impossible to stop similar proposals.”
Environmental health officers confirmed they had received noise complaints but so far they were unsubstantiated.
He did not object in principle but said the noise limit should be reduced after 11pm given the property’s residential setting.
The plans have been backed by 10 people, who said holiday rentals boost the city’s economy while it is recovering from the pandemic.
Amanda Jayne said the applicants “cannot offer more peace of mind for nearby residents that noise levels will be monitored and controlled to a reasonable manner”.
A supporter who only gave the name Sarah said it was “great to see that tired old B&B being put to good use”.
The application, reference 22/00723/FUL, will be considered by Bath and North East Somerset Council. Ward councillor Manda Rigby has said its fate should be decided by the planning committee.
Bath Hot Houses has been approached for a comment.
Stephen Sumner, Local Democracy Reporter
