A rugby club has been told it can continue to host large events at its grounds, including live music shows, plays, and films. Neighbours had objected to the Cambridge Rugby Football Club, in Grantchester Road, being granted a licence to hold the events, claiming previous events had subjected them to “invasive” noise. However, the club said the new licence would allow it to take more control and accountability for the events held at its site. Cambridge City Council has agreed to grant the licence for the events to take place, but imposed additional conditions to address some of the neighbours' concerns. The rugby club asked for a new licence to hold a range of events alongside its normal rugby tournaments and training days. Martin Barker, a representative of the club, told councillors at a hearing earlier this month (May 16) that there are currently three separate licences for events to be held at the site. These include the club licence, and two event licences held by separate companies. Mr Barker explained that currently external promoters who want to hold events at the club have applied separately for a licence to do so. He said while this arrangement had worked well, it left the club without any overarching control of the events. He said applying for a new licence would allow the club to “take a closer eye on the detail of all potential events” at the site, and would make the club “accountable for all activities held on their grounds”. He added that if the new licence was granted, the other licences would be surrendered and no longer used. Mr Barker said a limit on the number of events was also proposed, as he recognised the number of events held at the club was a "contentious issue” for neighbours. He said the club was hoping to “allay fears” by putting in place a “finite upper limit” to provide assurance that there would not be a “never-ending spiral of outdoor events”. Mr Barker also highlighted a range of conditions proposed by the club to minimise the impact of the events on neighbours. These included agreeing maximum noise levels with environmental health officers, and applying for temporary restrictions to stop people parking on nearby streets during the events. He said: “There are wide range conditions on offer here all designed to minimise impact on the community. We are not seeking to cause disruption, we are looking to work alongside all parties, authorities, and community to ensure safe, responsibly run and well managed events. “We hope that the conditions proposed are proportionate and reasonable and fair and will deliver that outcome. This is about the club taking responsibility and accountability, about making the community asset responsible and accountable as opposed to external people of various sizes coming in and doing that.” 'Newnham is not Glastonbury, Ibiza, or Nashville' However, some of the neighbours to the club urged councillors to not grant the new licence, raising concerns about the impact the events would have on their lives. There were 55 formal objections lodged against the licence. Several neighbours spoke at the hearing sharing their experiences of previous events held at the club. Jane Langley said Newnham was “not Glastonbury, Ibiza, or Nashville“. She claimed the noise for previous events held at the club had been "invasive" and branded it “tuneless, ugly and incessant”. She also claimed there had been incidents of drunken people leaving events late at night and breaking car windscreens and mirrors, and urinating in front gardens. Ms Langley said: “My wish is not to put an end to the rugby club, it is to ask that this licence for noise, for music is not given and that we go back to the drawing board, all of us in the community, to discuss how we can best support the rugby club.” Nataša Suttá claimed the stress caused by the events at the club had negatively impacted her health. She argued that “only small rugby events should take place” at the club and said any other events were “unsuitable especially with music and alcohol”. She said: “This is a quiet residential area, housing many vulnerable elderly and children, who need a safe environment, as well as eminent academics, writers and artists who require quiet for their work, in the house and garden, working in peace and quiet and going to bed early.” Ratna Beresford raised concerns about the impact of more events on her family, highlighting that her teenage daughter is studying for exams. She asked councillors to imagine the impact of “pounding noise” would have on her. Ms Beresford said even when there were no exams, the events at the club were “nightmarish enough” for the whole family. Mary Kempski said she had lived near the rugby club for 40 years, but said it was “no longer the quiet neighbour” she claimed it once was. She said: “The events have grown exponentially; this new licence application is testament to this. “I find large events where 5,000 people descend on the same area intimidating. I’m not against people enjoying themselves at all, but the rugby club is not a suitable place for festivals and events.” Councillors listened to the arguments, before leaving to make the final decision in private. In a decision notice published by the city council it said the authority had agreed to grant the licence, but imposed extra conditions to try and address some of the neighbours' concerns. Small events of up to 999 people can be held up to 10 times a year, medium events of between 1,000 and 2,499 people can be held up to four times a year, and large events of between 2,500 to 4,999 people can be held up to three times a year. The city council added a condition that a medium or large event can only take place on a maximum of two consecutive days across Friday, Saturday and Sunday. At the small events alcohol can be sold between 10am and 9.30pm on Monday to Thursday, between 10am and 10.30pm on Friday and Saturday, and between 10am and 7.30pm on Sunday. At the medium and large events alcohol can be sold between 11am and 10.30pm on Friday and Saturday, and between 11am and 7.30pm on Sunday. The licence was also granted subject to two of the existing licences to hold events at the site being surrendered by June 12. The city council said the club can keep its club licence that covers indoor events, which the authority said was “working well for current rugby events”. The decision notice said councillors acknowledged the concerns neighbours had shared, but said the additional conditions would help and were “appropriate and proportionate”. To get more breaking news and top stories delivered directly to your phone, join our new WhatsApp community. Click this link to receive your daily dose of CambridgeshireLive content. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don’t like our community, you can check out any time you like. If you’re curious, you can read our Privacy Notice .