Residents have voiced their anger over plans to open a new bar and micro-brewery in Caerphilly Town.
A licence application for Brew Monster to open on Lon y Twyn has been approved by Caerphilly County Borough Council.
It means Brew Monster will be able to supply alcohol, provide late night refreshments and play recorded music, should they be granted planning permission to convert the former Plumb Save building.
However, concerns have been raised over the bar’s location near houses and the Twyn School.
Resident Paul Brown said he had concerns over possible “noise and public disorder”.
He also expressed concern over the bar’s smoking area, which he said would be level with bedrooms on Southern Street.
Resident Brigid Brown said she was worried about possible smells coming from the brewery.
Mrs Brown said: “The majority of breweries are out of town or on industrial estates. I want to be able to enjoy my garden without the noise and irritation.
“I’m not against a micro-brewery – just not here.”
Emma Blewden, who has two sons at the Twyn School, said: “Caerphilly has enough bars as it is, and this one is in plain sight of the school yard.
“If the school was down wind, smoke would blow over. There’s also the smell from the brewery.”
Ms Blewden also expressed concerns about traffic around the school and said the bar was in the “wrong location”.
She also took swipe at the council for “pushing it through during lockdown”.
Ms Blewden said she only found out about the plans after reading an article in Caerphilly Observer, and said parents “should have been informed sooner”.
“I feel annoyed and let down”, said Ms Blewden.
The council was contacted for comment.
Brew Monster managing director Glenn White said the company has engaged with authorities and local residents to ensure it doesn’t “have a detrimental impact on those living nearby and those with children attending the nearby school”.
“We have existing venues that have residents living in apartments directly above the bars, and we previously operated a brewery bar which was close to a local primary school, so we have experience of working within these constraints and have never had complaints of any kind relating to noise, odour or issues with local schools.”
He also said opening hours had been reduced “to address specific concerns raised by residents,” and Brew Monster is “committed to working constructively with local residents and authorities” in order to have “a positive impact on the town”.
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Glenn White has had no formal meeting or discussions with residents other than through the pages of the Caerphilly Observer.
“Come and Drink the place dry” I believe was the comment made by Brew Monster via a newspaper report. As s resident in this vicinity I consider this wholly unacceptable not only in the current climate of Covid-19 and now lockdown through similar attitudes towards meeting and drinking but also in the light of this inconsiderate, un-negotiating, steam rolling brewery who thinks they can just do what they want. The sight is already littered with kegs and brewing bins as if they’ve been given the go ahead by the council to start their business except they haven’t been given change if use by the council. I hope the council can see they have a business that doesn’t consider council policy before going ahead without their consent as contemptible and declined their request. I am of the understanding The Tywn school has not been approached and you can understand why!
As they clearly admit the objectors are self important NIMBYs. There were no planning reasons to prevent change of use so get over it!
Good luck with your venture in Caerphilly, I’m a resident living just a few doors from Brains pontygwindy inn and it’s a pleasure having a pub so close it actually adds to the community. I wish Brewdog all the success in Caerphilly
I thought council’s were supposed to act with integrity and in the best interests of the community that they are SUPPOSED to serve? If this is correct, then why have Caerphilly Council granted this business a license to serve alchohol and play music, in a location, yards from two schools and in a long established residential area, where NONE of the impacted residents want it?
I don’t live in East View personally, but my mother, who is in her eighties, lives directly behind the current building and she is wholly against it. From a different perspective, if I were a parent of children who attend either the Twyn Infants or Twyn Junior schools, I certainly wouldn’t be happy.