Flora Day venue slams council decision

The owners of a grand house made famous for inviting 2,500 people into its lavish gardens as part of the annual Flora Day celebrations have slammed a decision by a Cornwall Council planning committee to refuse weddings on the site as "ludicrous".

Sarah and Adam Corbridge applied for permission to hold a maximum of six wedding ceremonies and receptions per year in the grounds of listed Lismore House in the centre of Helston.

Almost 150 people had commented about the proposals on the council's online planning portal, with 77 supporting and 68 raising objections. Cllr Guy Foreman, local member for Helston South & Meneage, said at the meeting on July 24: "With the cost of living crisis affecting everyone it's understandable that people like the applicants are looking for ways of offsetting the extra cost being forced upon them."

However, the planning committee decided last week to refuse on the grounds that the events would have an unacceptable impact on neighbouring homes due to noise and disturbance caused by music, guests, and vehicle movements.

Flora Day venue's weddings request refused

The Corbridges have said they will be submitting a new application shortly, addressing the concerns of councillors. They have also thanked residents of Helston who have supported their proposals.

In a statement, the owners of 19th century Lismore said: "Thank you to those who have taken the time to stop and speak to us in person in the town regarding this ludicrous decision. Your support speaks loudly. We feel that the outcome of the application was not fairly justified and we hope that with the passion and backing from the people of Helston we can bring to the attention of the council just how important this is for the future of Lismore and to Helstonians."

They clarified details of their application for the six annual weddings, which would see up to 100 guests at each reception.

"We appreciate the concern regarding noise and at the request of the council two noise surveys we carried out by a professional acoustics company. Their professional conclusion stated that they could see no reason why the application should be refused on the grounds of noise. We also stated an 11pm cut off time for music, and it to only be acoustic and not amplified. The grounds at Lismore are surrounded by 3m stone walls, and thick with woodland on three sides. There are a number of premises providing much enjoyed music, many until late into the early hours of the morning, playing in pubs every weekend just yards away from Lismore's boundaries and the proposed marquee site.

"We appreciate the concern with parking on Cross Street. We have parking for 14 cars on site at Lismore, for the immediate wedding party only. At the planning meeting our representative stated guest parking at a farm at Porthleven had been arranged, and guests would be brought to and from Lismore by mini bus, to reduce traffic and noise and disruption to those living on Cross Street. Helston Guildhall has recently been granted a licence for weddings, with no parking, just a few yards from Lismore, and our beautiful church right next to us, [has] for years [been] holding weddings without allocated parking."

They added: "Our aim from the start was to be respectful and mindful of our neighbours. We want do this correctly, with the help and guidance from the council, who had the opportunity to grant us permission with 'conditions' which we would have done our utmost to abide by. We also could have been granted temporary permission to trail weddings at Lismore.

"We feel so let down by Helston Town Council who recommend refusal of our application and we are confused by the councillors apologising to us in the street and online after their vote to refuse. We are aware there must be coinciding pressures.

"We love sharing our gardens with 2,500 guests on Flora Day and we know how much it means to so many people. Only locals and true Flora Day lovers can understand the joy that Flora Day brings. Whilst we appreciate the support from those of you who have said we should close the gardens in protest, we want to to say that for as long as we own Lismore we will always allow the dancers and people through. We are proud Helstonians through and through with a 150-year-old family business in town!"

The couple own Wearnes Jewellers in Helston and Falmouth, which was founded by Sarah's family in 1869.

A number of Helston residents responded to the Corbridges' comments on social media.

"I was appalled to see that people had objected against your application after all that you do for the town on Flora Day. Please post the new planning application link – I will be sure to go and add my support. I wish I had done that in the first place but not once did I think this would be refused," said one, while another added: "Six weddings a year is hardly going to disrupt their lives! Good luck with your second application."