A marquee that was set up outside has pub has divided a community after locals claimed it has an “unacceptable adverse visual impact” on the area.
The Boat Inn in Chepstow in Monmouthshire was erected in 2020 to comply with Covid restrictions.
A planning application submitted in February 2023 to keep it in place permanently divided the town with hundreds of comments lodged with the local council and a row over access to the river.
Residents claim the marquee has blocked access to steps leading to the water and a pontoon, something they claim is crucial for rescue teams.
The marquee was erected outside the pub during Covid
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The landlady of the pub, Amanda Cooper, said she did not wish to deny anyone riverbank access and has kept a corridor through the outdoor seating area leading to the steps.
However, a revised application in August 2023 was thrown out by Monmouthshire County Council due to its “unacceptable adverse visual impact” on the area.
The council said the marquee failed to preserve or enhance the character of the conservation area, negatively impacting nearby listed buildings.
Independent planning inspector Anthony Thickett noted that the marquee obstructs open views along the river which are highlighted in the conservation area appraisal, reinforcing the council’s decision.
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The Boat Inn has lost its appeal
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In his decision, he wrote: “The large, shiny marquee despite its three open sides, intrudes into this space and interrupts views along the river.”
Thickett added that while the seating area continues the riverbank’s history as a bustling spot, he felt the marquee is not needed for preserving the area’s character after dark or throughout the year.
He added that the modern materials and storage cage fail to respect the historic setting, contrasting with the traditional character of The Boat Inn and nearby listed buildings.
Thickett stated in his review that he was only to judge if “retention of the existing structure is acceptable”, adding it would not be correct to discuss alternative suggestions by the council.
Chepstow and District Yacht Club and the Chepstow Boat Club said the area “has historically been used for the laying-up of boats since the time Chepstow was truly a port”.
Members say without “full access” to the pontoon for maintenance it would have to be removed – meaning boats could no longer be moored on the river.
A spokesman for the club said: “We must not lose the only remaining evidence of our maritime history or the ancient port of Chepstow will become just that history”