Hempstead Hotel and Fireworks

Following the recent event held at the Hempstead Hotel in March, we have once again received a number of complaints with regards to the fireworks and parking problems along Randle Way associated with the Hotel.

Initial discussions with Swale Borough Council and the Police both concluded that the Hotel was operating within the law and not breaking any planning conditions.

Swale Borough Councils planning department considered what we had to say in terms of the parking problems in Randle Way when the hotel has a function and stated that unless the cars were parked illegally or were blocking access that they were entitled to park in the road.

Bapchild Parish Council suggested that the car parking facilities for the Hotel were perhaps not adequate for the number of guests, particularly when a function is being held. The planning officer explained that the hotel was there before the houses. We did however point out that neither the access on to Panteny Lane nor the extension of the Hotel existed before the housing estate was completed. The planning officer said that residents would therefore have had an opportunity to object when the applications for the extension was made. We kindly suggested that this may well have been the case, and that there comments were simply overiden.

With regards to the Fireworks, the hotel does appear to be operating within the law. However residents are concerned that these events occur without notice and are very distressing for their pets.

Update

There have been no re-occurances of these events for some time now and we no longer consider this to be a current issue.