A holiday park has been given permission to merge its licences for two entertainment venues and have entertainment outdoors.

Lizard Point at Penhale, Ruan Minor, run by Parkdean Resorts, had applied to Cornwall Council to amend its current licences for its two venues into one covering both venues.

The holiday park was not looking to extend its hours of operation but just wanted to bring the two together.

It also applied for permission to have activities indoors and outdoors including the showing of films, playing music and live music.

The application went before Cornwall Council's licensing act sub-committee yesterday which met online due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Councillors heard from some nearby residents who said they had been disturbed by noise from the park in previous years with one claiming they had had to make "hundreds" of complaints.

The objectors claimed the changes to the licence could make their lives worse, saying they had been unable to sleep with their windows open at night due to the noise.

Jonathan Smith, a solicitor representing the applicants, told councillors that there was no intention to extend the hours of operation or sale of alcohol.

He said the park was looking to include outdoor areas at the site which included three separate seating areas.

Mr Smith said the park operators were investing £1.6 million into the park to improve facilities for holidaymakers.

The committee heard that in previous years the park had applied for temporary event notices so it could screen films outdoors. The new licence would allow for films to be screened.

Mr Smith said: "With social distancing, the use of outdoor areas is going to be paramount and of even more importance."

The solicitor explained that the park had agreed with environmental health officers that it would install a noise limiter which would not allow sound to go any higher than 85 decibels.

Councillors heard that if the noise levels went above this then the power would cut out.

The venue said it was not looking to run sound at the highest level.

Mark Leath, who lives close to the park, said he was concerned about the levels of noise.

He said that while he and his wife appreciated that the holiday park was good for the local economy he did not want it to affect his health and wellbeing.

"If the licence is granted it will allow the park to hold more outdoor events. It will have a negative impact on us to be able to enjoy our lives and our homes and our wellbeing."

Mr Leath said the park was also in an area of outstanding natural beauty and suggested the noise could have a negative impact on wildlife.

His wife Laraine Leath said she was concerned about the disturbance to immediate neighbours.

She added: "Should this application be allowed I fear for my health and wellbeing."

Mrs Leath told the committee that due to a medical condition she goes to bed at 7pm and was often disturbed by noise from the holiday park.

She said: "I am petrified that my life will get much harder if I can't get my sleep and it is disturbed by the noise from the holiday park."

Jacquelin George, who lives close to the park and is also a co-owner of a nearby holiday park, said she was also concerned about the noise.

She said she and her daughter had been affected by the noise in the past and she had been forced to go to the park "hundreds of times" to complain.

She explained that when she did raise concerns the noise levels were reduced and that a door which had been left open was closed.

Mr Smith said there had been issues with staff leaving a back door open and that all staff had now been told to keep it closed to prevent noise.

Councillors heard that no complaints about noise at the park had been made to Cornwall Council.

The committee agreed to grant the variation to the licence with some conditions.