New sauna leaves neighbours hot under the collar

A sauna that opened last year without getting planning permission has left neighbours feeling hot under the collar.

The Bristol Sauna Yard is operating on Church Road in Redfield, despite being refused planning permission. Bristol City Council said the case is now being reviewed by planning enforcement.

Residents living in Church Road Studios and the nearby Lacie Court have complained about noise from customers screaming in plunge pools and the loss of privacy.

"We have already taken practical steps to reduce the potential impact of the operation, including converting entirely to electric heating, removing wood smoke and installing privacy screening," said Robbie Wallace, from the sauna.

The firm will apply for planning permission again, taking on board the previous reasons for refusal.

One resident, who asked not to be named, told the Local Democracy Reporting Service: "I work from home and it's a constant distraction with their customers coming in and making noise, especially on the weekend.

"It's just been a nuisance. The worst thing is that we weren't made aware, it just happened.

"We just got a letter from the sauna just basically introducing themselves."

The sauna applied for planning permission in November last year, which was rejected by the council due to the impact on living conditions of the neighbours, loss of privacy and noise disturbances.

The family-run firm then appealed to the government's Planning Inspectorate, which sided with the council.

The council's planning department refused permission again in February this year - but the sauna is still open.

As well as the noise, residents have complained that the sauna's customers must come through their locked front gate to access the site, and then a path around the side of the building.

Some customers have been peering through residents windows and even mistakenly entered the block of flats in swimwear.

Wallace said: "We take the concerns raised by neighbouring residents seriously and are committed to working constructively with Bristol City Council and our neighbours to find a long-term solution."

A Bristol City Council spokesperson said the case was "currently under review by planning enforcement following the conclusion of the recent planning appeal process".

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