Neighbours’ concerns about noise were raised at a Cornwall Council planning meeting on Monday, November 18 when an application was considered for a new house with a separate music room to be used by a saxophone-playing doctor on a busy road between St Austell and Newquay.

The proposal by Andrew and Patricia Nichols to build a two-bed house with music room / ancillary bedroom in the grounds of their existing home at Cooperage Road, Trewoon, was opposed by St Mewan Parish Council.

Local member Cllr Michael Bunney brought it before the central area planning committee citing inadequate parking for the proposed new home, accessing the site from the busy A3058 and excessive noise from the proposed new music room.

However, the application was recommended for approval by Cornwall Council’s planning department.

St Mewan council chair Patsy Tarbox said the parish clerk experienced significant difficulty driving into the proposed site, due to the “restrictive angle” of the gate and narrowness of the existing driveway. As a result, a passenger had to hold up the traffic on the A3058 St Austell to Newquay road to allow the vehicle to reverse.

“In our view full removal of the front wall along with installation of a dropped kerb is essential to ensure safe and practical access,” she said, adding it was “concerning” that there had been no input from highways or the emergency services “as their professional assessments are critical to ensuring public safety and traffic flow”.

There is also concern regarding potential noise pollution from a music room which would be incorporated in a separate building. “While the applicant has stated that this music room is intended solely for private use, this does not adequately mitigate the risk of disturbance to neighbours.

“We have received objections from residents who are concerned about the potential of excessive noise. We recommend that soundproofing requirements be imposed to protect the health and wellbeing of nearby residents.”

Responding to a question about how the music room would be used, Cllr Tarbox said: “Use could be for a rock band for all we know, but I think the applicant indicated they are a saxophone player and didn’t want to disturb any grandchildren staying over and wanted something away from the property.”

She asked that the committee deferred making a decision and hold a site meeting to assess the situation.

Applicant Dr Andrew Nichols said it wasn’t written in stone that the ancillary room would be used for musical purposes. “It’s just as likely to be used as a spare bedroom when my sons visit or I might use it as a quiet study area. There is no intention to use it for anything other than normal domestic purposes.

“I’ve lived at this address for 25 years and, yes, I play the saxophone most evenings. In all that time we’ve never had any complaints about noise from neighbours. My wife and I are both familiar with working antisocial hours and on call, so I try to be a good neighbour and make sure I practise relatively quietly and during social hours in the evening. I wouldn’t play early in the morning and I wouldn’t play late at night.”

He added that he had never found car parking an issue at the property. “I’m very surprised that that’s even been raised.”

Cllr Bunney said he supported the concerns raised by the parish council, particularly with regard to highways and parking. “I understand entirely the desire to build on the plot and the appropriateness of this development as infill, but my key concern is a highways and parking assessment should be carried out, as well as a noise assessment for the occasional bedroom and music room.”

He added that the music room could prove to be unneighbourly in the future. “I do not object to development on the site at all, but would like properly detailed consultation with Highways.”

A planning officer said there was adequate visibility each way on the road, which has a 30mph speed limit, and it was felt there was no need to consult the Highways officer as there are no “overriding highways concerns with this site. The committee heard there was unlikely to be a sound problem with the music room but said there would be legal ways of tackling that if it became an issue.

The committee voted in favour of giving officers’ delegated approval with conditions to address highways, noise and tree protection concerns.