A “compromise” could mean alcohol is allowed to be served at a cemetery at events up to four nights a week.

Hackney Council’s events team have applied for a licence to serve drinks at the newly restored Abney Park cemetery chapel in Stoke Newington every night of the week.

But residents told the council’s licensing committee they were worried about the impact of noise on bats living in Abney Park Cemetery, which are a protected species, and neighbours.

Abney Park is one of London’s 'Magnificent Seven' Victorian garden cemeteries and is now a memorial garden and nature reserve.

The events team had asked for a licence up to 10pm on Sundays, 11pm on Mondays to Thursdays and until midnight on Fridays and Saturdays.

Kimberley Jones, the council’s events manager, said there would be strict rules, with security staff whenever alcohol was served.

She told the licensing committee on Monday (September 25) it was “non-negotiable” that under 18s could only be at events where alcohol is served if they are accompanied by a responsible adult.

Events such as wedding ceremonies do not last long, she said, which limits the amount of alcohol guests can drink.

Lucy Wedderburn, who lives near the park, outlined concerns over public nuisance, noise and to protect “what should be a dark space at night.”

She said: “People need to be able to sleep at night. We will hear what happens.”

Ms Wedderburn said residents wanted to protect the beauty of the nature reserve and asked for more details of plans to avoid disturbing bats and owls.

Ms Jacobs said the council had been advised to have low level lighting inside the chapel and that there is also a bat loft set up.

She said noise would be limited to 93 decibels inside the chapel and people attending events would only be allowed outside briefly in a designated area to avoid noise.

She explained that it was not possible for guests to leave via Church Street rather than Stoke Newington High Street at night as Ms Wedderburn suggested. The path to the high street has been restored, with low level lighting, but the other exit has not.

Tom Walker from the Abney Park Trust said: “We conditionally support the proposal, but the council needs to adopt a range of policies to create appropriate events. Without that there is a risk of public nuisance.”

He said the trust hopes to hold events in the park.

Mr Walker said the trust wanted “arrangements to support successful events, respect nature reserve, history and heritage.”

The licensing committee suggested a compromise to try out the licence and iron out any teething problems. Committee chairman Richard Lufkin proposed a licence for events up to four nights a week.

The decision will be published within five working days.