Blackburn with Darwen Council has taken enforcement action against the Issa Foundation and Inara Events Ltd, the owners and leaseholders of the former St Mary’s College building in Shear Brow, Blackburn, for hosting unauthorised events without the necessary planning permission.
The council has served a Temporary Stop Notice, effective immediately, which prevents the building from being used for functions and celebration events until September 11. A formal planning application will be required for a change of use to be considered at the site.
The decision comes after complaints from residents living in the nearby area about excessive noise and dangerous parking outside the venue, which has been hosting events over the weekend. The council has also issued a Community Protection Notice warning letter to Inara Events Ltd, requiring the business to take reasonable steps to ensure that its customers do not cause excessive noise, including drumming, shouting, and singing.
The notice also requires the business to control customer parking to ensure no nuisance is caused to residents and no danger is caused to pedestrians and other road users. Failure to comply with the Community Protection Notice warning letter could result in a Community Protection Notice being issued by the council, which could lead to prosecution and possible fines.
The council’s decision has been met with disappointment from event-goers who had booked events at the venue in the coming weeks. However, the council has emphasized that the safety and amenity of all residents and visitors in the area are its top priority, and venues like this cannot be allowed to operate without the required permissions.
A spokesperson for Blackburn with Darwen Council said: “Enforcement action has today been taken to prevent the former St Mary’s College building from being used for functions and celebration events. The building does not have the required planning permission in place to be used for that purpose, and so a Temporary Stop Notice has been served as well as a Community Protection Notice warning letter.
“Following events at the weekend, we received complaints from residents in the area, including around noise and dangerous parking. We appreciate this action will sadly impact families who may have events planned there in the coming weeks, but the safety and amenity of all of our residents and visitors is our priority, and venues like this cannot be allowed to operate without the required permissions.”
The Issa Foundation and Inara Events Ltd have been approached for comment, but at the time of publication, no response had been received.
Residents who have been affected by the noise and parking issues are encouraged to report any further incidents to the council. The council will continue to monitor the situation and take further action if necessary to ensure the safety and amenity of all residents and visitors in the area.
In the meantime, event-goers who had booked events at the former St Mary’s College building are advised to contact the organisers directly to discuss alternative arrangements.
The former St Mary’s College building was purchased by the Issa Foundation, a charitable body set up by the family of Blackburn billionaire brothers Mohsin and Zuber Issa, in 2022. The building had previously been used as an education establishment before being converted into an events venue.
Residents living in the nearby area have expressed concerns about the noise and parking issues caused by the events at the venue. The council has received complaints about excessive noise, including drumming, shouting, and singing, as well as dangerous parking, which has caused a nuisance to residents and a danger to pedestrians and other road users.
The council’s decision to serve a Temporary Stop Notice and Community Protection Notice warning letter has raised questions about the future of the venue. The Issa Foundation and Inara Events Ltd will need to submit a formal planning application for a change of use to be considered at the site. If the application is approved, the venue may be able to reopen for events in the future.
The council’s decision to take enforcement action against the Issa Foundation and Inara Events Ltd is a clear message that the safety and amenity of all residents and visitors in the area are its top priority. The council will continue to monitor the situation and take further action if necessary to ensure that the venue does not operate without the required permissions.