The owners of Attwell Farm Park are reeling after receiving a Community Protection Notice from the council over noise complaints
Beoley: Mike and Sue Attwell, who run Attwell Farm Park, are in shock. They just got hit with a Community Protection Notice from Bromsgrove District Council. This means they have to cut back on their opening hours and turn off their festive lights at night.
At 80 and 79 years old, Mike and Sue, along with their daughter and grandson, received these legal letters after some locals complained about their festive farm trail being a “nuisance.”
Mike, who recently had major hip surgery, said he’s been losing sleep over this. The complaints mentioned that the light trail was causing “light pollution” and that there were noise issues with music and kids having fun.
Even with the notice, the Attwells plan to keep their light trail running until January 5. Ollie Arundale, the marketing director, said the notice has really upset the family.
He explained that they’ve always had a tough time since opening in 2020. They provide fun for kids and families, especially those with special needs, and they help the local economy. All they want is to spread joy, not negativity.
Ollie mentioned that when they got planning permission, they thought everything was fine. But when they tried to get an alcohol license for a Halloween event, things took a turn for the worse.
Some folks mistakenly thought they were turning the farm into a nightclub, but it’s really a family attraction. They’re just trying to find ways to make money while keeping it family-friendly.
Ollie pointed out that staying open until 9 PM is important for kids with special needs, as it’s less crowded and overwhelming for them. The light trail is part of their Santa attraction, not a nightclub.
The council’s notices say that local residents have raised concerns about events at the farm, claiming it negatively affects their quality of life.
Ollie feels like the local authority is being a bit of a Grinch, and they just can’t figure out why they’re being treated this way.
Attwell Farm Park is a big deal in Worcestershire, being the second-largest family attraction after West Midlands Safari Park, and it employs 50 locals.
The family has 21 days to appeal the notice and is currently looking for legal advice. Meanwhile, the council has said they can’t comment right now.
