A PLANNING application to convert a Grade II listed Mathern house into a wedding venue has been passed by Monmouthshire County Council’s planning committee despite objections from local councillors and Mathern residents.

Olympic gold medal-winning cyclist Geraint Thomas, the owner of the property, will change the use of St Tewdric’s House and its outbuilding from a residential property into a wedding venue.

Plans involve the adaptation of the stable courtyard to create wedding reception facilities, and the development of the existing lodge and ‘main house’ into wedding guest accommodation.

Five guest rooms were proposed for the main house and three for the lodge. It is anticipated that the venue will generate 24 new part-time jobs.

The venue will cater for up to 150 guests, and include a 50 space carpark.

The proposals have generated 33 objections from local Mathern residents, and Mathern Community Council had recommended a refusal to the plan.

Concerns include the potential increase in vehicle and traffic movement along Mathern Road and any noise pollution from the venue.

Although around 40 wedding events are predicted to happen throughout a year at the venue, residents have voiced concerns about the site expanding into similar markets such as training days and conferences, thereby risking it turning into a ‘seven day facility’.

Reference was made by Mathern residents to the cyclist’s recent wedding party held at the property which the claim caused disturbance to pets and farm animals. Police were apparently called after receiving noise complaints from the surrounding areas, as fireworks were said to have been lit at 11pm.

Locals told of a double-decker bus also getting stuck travelling up the narrow Mathern Road and having to reverse back to the village.

Residents worry that noise complaints and traffic issues will continue throughout the year if the proposals are approved.

Concerned residents said in the council’s planning report: “New jobs are positive in the area but it’s the wrong place for this type of business

“Mathern Road is a minor road and is not capable to cope with the anticipated traffic movement.”

County council planning officers recommended an approval for the proposals, maintaining that specific planning conditions would reassure the complaints. Environmental Health Department officers prepared an acoustic report, based on sample ambient and background noise levels at adjacent neighbouring houses, and concluded that the potential for noise disturbances were not substantial enough to merit an official objection. Instead, recommendations for controlling the hours of operation and no music being played outside the venue at any time were made.

Planning conditions include the development of two points of access, with the exit gateway to be enlarged and positioned to discourage exiting left towards Mathern. The horus of operation are to be limited from 9.00am until 1.00am, with amplified music inside the property from 11.00am until midnight, with no music outside at any time.