Businessman's plans to sell alcohol from converted horsebox near Hatton Park scuppered by council

A businessman’s plans to sell alcohol from a converted horsebox parked in a field near Hatton Park have been scuppered after councillors refused to give him a licence.

Ollie Burnham has been serving coffee and cakes from the truck to walkers and nearby residents but applied for a premises license following requests from regulars.

And while others living nearby have complained about the siting of the Coffee Box horsebox on green belt land off Barcheston Drive, he explained to members Warwick District Council’s licensing and regulatory panel [Nov 17] that he had always tried to resolve their issues.

Mr Burnham, who also runs an events company, told the committee: “There were teething problems and I'm proud to say that when people came to me with concerns, primarily around the noise of the generator, I was able to solve these problems.

“I genuinely want this venture to not only keep my young business afloat during these unprecedented times of difficulty but also to be a valued and positive addition to the community.

"The addition of the sale of alcohol was purely because so many of my customers were asking me to provide this service.”

His plan was to sell alcohol on Friday and Saturday evenings in the spring and summer until 7.30pm and would continue selling coffee and cake each day.

He agreed to limit the numbers to 50 and to have a membership scheme for locals to deter people from driving to the site.

Mr Burnham refuted claims that he was being opportunistic and added: “I think supporting small businesses especially someone who is genuinely trying in a very difficult time should be at the forefront of the council’s priorities.”

The committee was told that there had been 23 objections and 12 letters of support to the application and a number of objectors spoke at the meeting.

Cllr Jan Matecki (Con, Budrooke) said: “I admire Mr Burnham for his initiative but I don’t think this is appropriate for green belt and the position it is actually in.

“I don’t think it is a well thought out idea. There are going to be traffic problems - you can’t stop people using cars.

"Fifty people will make a lot of noise because they will try and talk over each other so I think there is going to be nuisance to the residents.”

And one of those residents, Catherine Corby, agreed. She said: “I do admire everything you are trying to do. It is all about reinventing yourself and I completely get that but not at the risk of the well-being of those who are immediately around you.

“The existing impact of the business is already substantial.

"It is bad at the moment but if you go into the evening it is going to be such an impingement on the life we lead and the joy we get from our home. It’s not acceptable.

“I don’t doubt that there’s a need for coffee on Hatton Park but why has it got to be in a field location where it is causing so much nuisance to other people and the wildlife?”

The application was refused on grounds of public nuisance.