Quarry concert ‘was too quiet’
Wednesday 15th July 2009, 9:07AM BST.
People who attended last weekend’s Back to the 80s concert in Shrewsbury’s Quarry say noise restrictions ruined the event.
The Saturday night show, which included performances by chart-toppers of the past including Bananarama, Go West and The Human League, was organised by IML Concerts.
It followed on from a performance by piano maestro Jools Holland on the Friday night.
Some audience members have complained the sound level was too low for an outdoor event.
But council bosses insist the sound level was actually higher than in previous years.
James Agg, from Telford, said: “The sound all night was up and down not at any constant level and only Go West was given any real decent sound.
“If Shrewsbury is to hold these events for two nights of the year the sound level has to be improved.”
He added: “The artists and promoters will not want to come back if this occurs again.”
Thomas Shepherd, from Frankwell, in Shrewsbury, who promotes music nights in the town, said: “When will the council listen to its residents? Low sound levels at a concert? What an absolute joke.”
Alan Shrank, from Shrewsbury Town Centre Residents’ Association, said the group did not think the Quarry was suitable for large-scale concerts.
He said: “We’ve always had the view the Quarry is the wrong place for open air concerts as, if it’s a large crowd, you have to have it so loud it interferes with everyone living nearby because the sound travels a long way.”
He said venues such as Attingham Park or the West Mid Showground would be more appropriate.
Carol Foster, licensing team leader for the central area for Shropshire Council, said the licence this year had been 10 decibels louder than previous years and had been set at 75 decibels for Friday and Saturday.
“It’s a fine balance between the enjoyment of the people attending and the local residents who live around the area,” she said.
Chris Bailey, from the organisers IML Concerts, said they would be finishing this concert season before they began looking at venues for next year’s concerts and deciding on any changes to sound levels for their licensing application.
By Emma Kasprzak
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“Alan Shrank, from Shrewsbury Town Centre Residents’ Association, said the group did not think the Quarry was suitable for large-scale concerts”.
As a town resident I have never been asked what I think about the use of the quarry. The residents Association are a self ellected bunch of residents over a certain age with too much time on their hands and should stop trying to turn Shrewsbury into an elephants grave yard. As for being louder than last year this is rubbish.
Over the last five or so years Shrewsbury has come alive let us not let these small minded few spoil a real opportunity to make shrewsbury a centre for entertainment as well as a destination of choice. Should we get rid of the flower show as well!!!
One last thing Alan not in my name do you make these claims.
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I live near the quarry in Frankwell and even though I did not go to either of the concerts, I see it as a positive thing for the town. I am a firm believer that the quarry should be used more for events like these.
I remember when I was a kid going to the one, and only, Radio 1 show to be held in the quarry. Everyone was made to sit down and then people complained about the noise and amount of people in the town, so there was never another one.
Our town is put to shame compared to other towns that have a vibrant music scene for people of all ages.
Any bit of fun in Shrewsbury is frowned upon.
Some people need to get out of the middle ages and stop moaning about noise levels in the town. If they don’t like it why don’t they move out to the suburbs?
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Take a look at the Shrewsbury Residents Association website (http://www.alan.shrank.freeuk.com/single/shrewsbury.htm). It is immediately apparent that this is not really a true representation of Shrewsbury residents at all, far from it. Of course, all residents viewpoints, however single minded or un-accomodating they may be – are valid none the less, but at least gather opinion, concerns and thoughts from a wide range of demographics, rather than an elitest bunch of secular individuals! Yet another example of the close knit buddies that succeed in keeping this town backward.
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Seriously, these fossils are in charge of the noise levels of a pop concert? Surely all they have to do is turn their deaf-aids down a notch or two and problem solved.
They claim to help assist “development of a broader range of cultural and leisure activities catering for a wider spectrum of residents and visitors” and promptly limit the enjoyment of 10,000 visitors to our (not ‘their) town.
They also strongly advocate ” reversal of the trend towards out of town shopping and support for smaller specialist shops and businesses”. Well all the town centre businesses who benefited from the influx of all these revellers with plenty of money in their pockets will be mightily unhappy when events such as this move to the football ground or the showground because of the limits put on the organisers by these dinosaurs, whose idea of a good night out is a sweet sherry down the conservative club!
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It was very quiet, we parked in the Grey friars carpark to go for a meal and we couldn’t hear anything from there.
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town residents? is this not just a small group of people and not the majority of town centre residents Mr shrank speaks for ?? seems to me all that groupdoes is whinge at every corner.
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This town residents association seem to run the town centre. Recently I visited Kingston upon Thames in Surrey, the river area is used to full advantage. There is a good family atmosphere all along the river with restaurants, bars, cafe’s ice cream sellers etc. We have a beautiful river running through Shrewsbury but we do not use it and I believe this is also due to this “association”. The concerts are a couple of nights each year and end just after 10.00 p.m. Would it really matter if there was a bit of noise?????
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I think the term fossils is good to use. These people and the people who act on their winging are letting the town and its proper residents down. It all started with the Fireworks! Fireworks are supposed to be noisy, now its the music!……absolutely ridiculous.
The council need to get a grip and just explain to these idiots that at certain times of the year there will be noisy concerts in the Quarry, and noisy Fireworks at the Flower Show, end of!!!!!
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we live in frankwell and could hear both concerts – we didnt want to go to them – but we enjoyed them from our garden – and the noise of thigns goign on it town really cheers everyone up i think – well the poeple i know – it cheers us all up ! we watched the fireworks from the river near frankwell too on friday night – its only a few nights of the year – if people feel it is too loud – go away for the weekend !? shrewsbury has changed for the better – i moved away in 2002 and just moved back in 2009 and its got a far better feel about it arts music theatre wise – lets not let this die so soon after its only just got going – there is so much potential – the quarry should be in use for something every weekend to my mind! music or otherwise – allt he recent darwin stuff has been great – shift time – bring on more of this type of stuff – and noise – well – if it annoys you either move or make sure you’re away those weekends!
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confused people said it was too quiet as we heard it fine from frankwell!!! (i wasnt annoyed by the sound either)
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Well I could here it from my home in Sundorne Shrewsbury come on you town folk buck up go to a concert and enjoy./…LET IT BE LOUDER
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The Town Centre Residents Assocation elitest nimby views and ways will be the downfall of this town. The river is underused, the Square is a prime location for small bars, good restuarnts etc and its these few residents that stop all of this moving forward. I do not understand how a small group of people are allowed to dictate to the masses.
At no point in recent years has it been more important for Shrewsbury to draw in events and businesses to make the town more vibrant and encourage people to visit and spend thier money in Shrewsbury. It is unfortunate that the beauty of the property in town, the size and expense attracts a type of person who has the money and the influence to make a nusiance of themselves until the powers that be give in to thier demands. If the Town Centre Residents Association are to be listened too the whole of Shrewsbury would be tucked up in bed with a horlicks at 9.00pm every night.
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75 decibels is a silly level to set it at.
http://www.osha.gov/dts/osta/otm/noise/images/common_sounds.gif
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Take a glance at the link below, which illustrates how (in)audible this years 75db sound level is. Sound levels of 100db upward is the norm for any concert style event, especially one of a larger scale such as this.
http://www.osha.gov/dts/osta/otm/noise/images/common_sounds.gif
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Well on behalf of the swans in the loop we had a cracking time .was a bit wet sat in the river the big spots of rain spoiled the music somewhat. drowned out the music a little.
As for the town residents association they Moan and moan at everything. If they want total privacy and piece and quiet then i suggest the Long Mynd flew over it a couple of days ago plenty of space for Alan Shank to moan and groan, plenty of open space. He can bleat to his hearts content.
Can i ask a favour if any readers feel like feeding us chaps down in the quarry then a nice bit of granary bread would be nice.
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The pure fact that 10,000 bought tickets to the 80′s gig and 3,000 for Jools Holland reflects what the public really think!It is about time that the powers that be recognise that events such as this bring money into the town. If these events are deemed too loud surely someone must raise the point that the fireworks, motorbikes,helicopters, gunfire and tannoy system make much more noise EVERY year at the flower show, throughout the whole of the two day event.Maybe too many of the residents association are involved with the organisation and funding of the flower show!!
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I have been around the music business most of my life, in fact many of my friends are responsible for some of the UK’s largest events. I have often contemplated getting them to bring something to Shropshire but know deep in my heart it would be a waste of time as official pettiness is endemic in both Telford and Shrewsbury. 75 db is more than a joke and extremely restrictive, who ever the jobs worth that came up with this figure should be shown the door as they have made Shrewsbury a laughing stock.
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This is one of the exact reasons I hate this town. For two nights, we attract good artists and bands to the town and people complain about the noise, it’s reasons like these that bands and artist from Shrewsbury never get anywhere, the council need to wake up and realise that this town is a nothing town, and will always be a nothing town unless more money is spent on decent venues, bars, and restaurants. The new theatre is also a joke, I thought it might have put Shrewsbury on the map perhaps, but as usual, no… James Morrison? Yeah great one…
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In these times of living in a nanny state of displaying silly warning signs like “Caution Hot Coffee” when buying a hot coffee – Im seriously considering taking the council to court – as there were no signs stating – WARNING – CONCERT – LOW NOISE LEVELS!!
Seriously … how can you have a concert which has a limit of 65db?
Most concerts have MINIMUM db level of 95-105. Seriously can the council tell us why they let it take place in the first place? Its a complete waste of time.
I hope the council have alerted the hospitals for patents checking themselves in with ear drum damage when the military bands play at the Flower Show. Have the council told the ambulance and fire brigade to quieten their sirens? This is an absolute joke.
This is a big debate that needs to be in the open. No tabloid headline grabbing reports, but in an in depth look at what is happening in Shrewsbury.
Music pubs are being shut down, crazy rules are being laid out concerning the use of the Quarry, the Nimbys nearly stopped Shrewsbury Town moving and the religious people are in danger of having the carols in the square cancelled.
Last year there was a great music festival in the Quarry called the Sunday Social – which has mysteriously not reappeared this year.
I feel the views of EVERYONE show how much they care about the Town. No one mentions politics, religion, music taste or football pride but why are the fun police of this fine town killing it off and more importantly why are the elected listening to these killjoys.
The council run theatre owners promised the younger folk of the town more concert type events relating to their age level. Each season we await eagerly, but alas NOTHING. WE PAY COUNCIL TAX TOO. Why can not we see the type bands of that play at the Wolves Civic?
And finally – a week long music festival – will fill the hotels, bring the town alive and put it on the map. AND concert profits may result in a cheaper council tax…
Once and for all, £37 for a concert that you can not hear is a joke. The promoters are blameless. The only guilty party are the council.
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Can someone find out if at Theatre Severn, the council allow the Birmingham Symphony Orchestra to play above 65db or indeed Midge Ure?
When the Wonder Stuff played in the Music Hall it must have been at least 130db.
WHY then class an event as a concert yet not allow the paying customers the opportunity to actually hear it without being drowned out by people 5 yards away chattering away about being on holiday in Greece?
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As usual, the “older” generation ruin it for everyone.
75Db is far too low.
I am a sound engineer and it is difficult to describe how low this is.
nanny state says it all.
love the long mynd idea for the moaners, right up the top!!
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The Councils licensing decisions are public documents so should be freely available. Would be interesting to read the reasons for their decisions and who is making representations?
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All praise to promoters IML for once again using the Quarry to stage two excellent musical events.
This is is a venue that has, historically, staged many events including circuses and fairs.
I suggest that the entertainment reduction arm of Shrewsbury Town Centre Residents’ Association consider this within the historical context.
There, it’s not so bad now is it?
People having fun….
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I was born in Shrewsbury and have lived here all my life. How dare Alan Shrank speak on my behalf! I want more concerts in Shrewsbury not less, and at higher noise levels aswell. Therefore, my views are not represented by this self-elected bunch of killjoys. Not one person so far on here agrees with Shranks’ comments and a quick read of his associations website really brings it home what a bunch of miserable, nimby, nosey-parkers they really are.
I would like either him or one of his cohorts to come on here and actually state what percentage of the 1,000 or so residents in the town centre were actually asked for their opinion. I would also suggest that the views of people under the age of 40 are not considered which is why I imagine that it’s just a bunch of old people sit around drinking sherry looking at planning applications and poking their nose in whenever the words pub, club or music are mentioned. Do they really have that much time on their hands? I would also ask Dr Shrank what the average age of the committee is? If they won’t come on here, Shropshire Star get one of your reporters to speak to him and report something interesting for a change. Something it is evident here that people clearly want to know about!
For anyone who can be bothered, listen to the lyrics to Nick Caves song ‘God is in the House’. Sums the town centre residents up really (well the old ones at least).
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Yes! How DARE people complain? Don’t they know we people who want to have fun OUR way are far, far more important than they are?
They should put up with us, because we say so!
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Unfortunately this is a perfect example of non-elected people interfering for the “Greater good” (Those that have seen hot fuzz, will know what I am making ref too)
What would be the likely hood if I was to establish a “Shrewsbury Town Centre Entertainment Association” of us having a genuine voice.
It is clear Shrewsbury has some very creative and forward thinking individuals.
Town centre entertainment should be encouraged, it promotes a neighbourhood feeling throughout the town, a sense of pride and generates income.
If anyone feels as I do, that perhaps its time to counteract these subversive groups. Then let me know. maybe its about time the watchers became watched
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Agree with everything that’s been said above.
Might I suggest that for those of us that live in the Town Centre (myself included) and do not feel properly represented by the Town Centre Residents Association contact them with our views via the contact details on their web page.
info@stcra@org.uk
http://www.2shrop.net/stcra
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If you feel the Town Centre Residents Association doesn’t represent your views, set up your own group to represent your views. Or join the TCRA to ensure it does represent your views?
But describing people who hold different views to you as being “fossils” could be why people might tend to ignore your views? Just a thought…
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Make up your mind Matt. Are you here to argue with everybody or do you actually have an opinion one way or the other?
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Could anyone tell me what Carol Decker sang? I was at the back at that point and could’nt hear anything. In fact everybody was shouting ‘turn it up, turn it up!!’ it was that low. I really do think the Quarry is an excellent venue for a concert. Great for the artists, looking out onto a tree lined park with St Chad’s and the market clock in the background and great for the audience because of the slope of the park, you get a great view of the stage – it’s perfect. I hope they don’t move the concerts to the West Mid Show Ground, it would’nt have the same atmosphere and it feels more outside Shrewsbury there. Looking forward to next years event if sound levels are sorted out. These gigs would be great business for Shrewsbury, if only a few snobbish residents would stop complaining over one weekend of the year.
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I too was at the back, the atmosphere was very poor. Firstly you couldn’t hear anything much and secondly you were so far back from the stage you couldn’t see anything even with binoculars. The ‘large screen’ wasn’t big enough, and would have been better placed higher up the hill at one side.
All in all a poor night out, I won’t bother again
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Think the problems with the alternative venues mentioned is that they are far less accessible than the quarry. If you hold them there people have to drive to the event and the town doesn’t get the knock on spending generated by extra visitors in the town.
I didn’t go to the concert but did walk through town while it was on, and while you could hear the music outside the quarry it wasn’t that distracting and I’m sure even people near the quarry could sit inside and watch tv without being that distracted – plus it was ended by 10.30 which isn’t too late.
I’d hope the residents would compromise a bit as having events in the town is important to the economy and also helps keep younger people living in the town and paying taxes.
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Wow! So much agreement and so positive. The residents association are wholly unrepresentative and seek only to preserve their own peace and quiet. The Quarry is a public park. Events are for ALL the residents of Shrewsbury and beyond. In fact the park could accommodate many thousands more people and truly put this town on the national and even world map. NIMBY’s the lot of them. The council should stand up for the interests of everyone not just a select few. It’s not as if concerts are proposed for every weekend of the summer – although why not – so what have they got to complain about?
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I did not hear either concert but then I was in Pembrokeshire at the time!!
I have often viewed comments by the TCRA and Alan Shrank on the planning website and been really dismayed at the narrow minded, nimbyish,uninformed and opinionated letters that are written to prevent any forward thinking and modern architecture in this town.
I am referring to quality modern architecture not the ‘Sticky back plastic Blue Peter model’ that has become our new Theatre.
We are constantly being denied good new architecture and innundated with Disney like mediaeval replicas such as the back of the shopping centres and new housing in the main is poor neo Georgian/Victorian pastiche.
Fortunately the planners do not always submit to the TCRA pressure and we have Mansers and the Nexus development in Rousehill.
The proposed hotel by the bus station and building on the corner of the Mardol are the next awful stone/brick cladding disasters in the offing.
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Potentially a great venue but I couldn’t hear the artists. This wasn’t a cheap concert and I expected to at least hear the artists. I actually thought the sound sytem had blown towards the end. Will think twice about returning, which is a shame as I actually spent money in the town that evening when I wouldn’t have done so otherwise.
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