Bridgerton Filming Location Sparks Local Uproar

Residents living near North Mymms Park, an Elizabethan mansion featured in Netflix's "Bridgerton" as the Duke of Hastings' Clyvedon estate, are embroiled in a contentious dispute over its use as a film location. Locals have lodged complaints detailing concerns about safety, noise, and pollution arising from commercial filming activities.

The primary grievances cited by neighbours include the presence of film vehicles on narrow local lanes, which they claim creates dangerous conditions, particularly for pedestrians and dog walkers. Residents have also reported disturbances from supercars, traffic disruption, and the emission of theatrical smoke. One neighbour described a recent shoot that produced a "substantial volume of artificial smoke" with a "strong gas-like odour" detectable up to a mile away.

Further complaints detail late-night activity, with convoys of vehicles observed passing homes as late as 3 a.m., and security dealing with shoot-related vehicles around 4:30 a.m. The issue of powerful cars revving engines, causing traffic delays, was also reported to the police.

North Mymms Parish Council has formally lodged a "major objection" with Welwyn Hatfield Borough Council, the deciding authority. The council argues that the volume and hours of filming contribute to road-safety issues, including blocked lanes and a general sense of fear among residents using the roads for walking. The objections also mention "late night crowds" and "loud music."

North Mymms Park has a history of hosting productions, including "The Crown," "Wonka," and the BBC comedy-drama "Ludwig." Planning consultants for the property maintain that filming occurs only occasionally.

Welwyn Hatfield Borough Council is expected to make a decision on whether to grant retrospective planning permission for the site's use as a commercial filming location.