The song (quietly) remains the same
Monday 20th July 2009, 8:00AM BST.
I doubt whether T’Pau would have been as big as they were in the 80s if Carol Decker had belted out the words: “Don’t sing too loud you might break the china in their house.”
Yet, it appears this (or words to this effect) is what she was told before the otherwise successful concert in the Quarry.
And she’s not the first. Last year I blogged on how Travis – hardly The Who when it comes to setting records for band loudness – were also asked if they wouldn’t mind keeping it down a bit.
And gawd bless Ms Decker, she hasn’t let it lie. Instead, when contacted by the Shropshire Star she had a pop at the council! I hope her words ring a little louder in the ears of the policy makers than they did in those of her audience at the Quarry – and much louder than my rant less than 12 months ago did.
But it is a point that needs hammering home.
The authorities have appeared, on one hand, to be forward thinking in allowing the marvellous open space that is Shrewsbury Quarry to be used for outdoor gigs in the summer, but then have cowed down to people of a certain generation who have objected to the noise (a note to those people – you live in a town centre! And the county town at that. What do you expect?!)
Those people who have complained have argued that somewhere like Attingham Park is more suitable, but this misses the point. Having the shows in the Quarry means more people can see live music on their doorstep without having to drive and afterwards (and perhaps before) will go out and put more money into the local economy rather than simply pack up and go home.
So here’s an idea. The gigs are advertised in plenty of time. If you think they are too loud, or you’re not a fan maybe go out and do something else? Why not go for a walk? I hear the gardens at Attingham are lovely this time of year.
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It is not the whole council to blame, it is the Environmemntal Health department who are the kill joys. They object about the noise to the licencing department who then have to act.
WE need to lobby the council to ensure they tell the Kill Joys were to go and at the same time remember the economic benifits of having a town full of life not just retired folk.
As a start send an email to Cllr Peter Nutting who is in charge of resources on the new council and ask him to help. His email is peter.nutting@shropshire.gov.uk
Last year there we only five complaints against 10,000 happy punters lets get the balance right for the future of the town.
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“It is not the whole council to blame, it is the Environmemntal Health department who are the kill joys.”
Whoever it is i’m sure that Dr. Alan Shranks will be falling over himself in his rush to make sure that these same regulations are strictly applied for the Flower Show. Perhaps he might even deign to appear on this message board to endorse this view.
I won’t hold my breath….
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And I’m worried for the ‘Memories of Woodstock’ festival at the West Mid on the 7/8/9th of August. I don’t want to have to hear Jethro Tull or Jefferson Starship at 75 decibels!!
Perhaps the Star has overlooked this event and could gather up a head of steam on this matter or else this town is doomed to be the backwater that certain interested parties sem to want it to be.
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Yes. How DARE people complain?
Let’s call them killjoys and mock them! Want to live a nice, quiet life? Want to have their windows open on a hot day with out sharing their home with a concert? The very idea!
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I’m totally with Mr B on this one. I missed the 80s concert as I was busy enjoying The Jackdaws and a few other local bands playing at The Varsity in Wolverhampton – a place which doesn’t have irritating councils and a few whinging residents to hamper it’s rather good live music scene. The bands were wonderfully loud and generally fantastic all round! Live music is at its best when you can feel the beat of the bass drum and twang of the bass guitar making things vibrate right along with them in the middle of your chest!
It’s just a shame that local bands can only play at a decent venue with decent sound if they travel out of Shrewsbury, especially since The Albert was shut down thanks to another bunch of whingers.
It seems that a minority of people in Shrewsbury are against anything which is even slightly enjoyable. The Quarry gigs are a couple of nights a year for goodness sake! Why does the council only seem to pay attention to the few people who like to moan about just about everything instead of the thousands of other people who don’t?!
Those who don’t want to be bothered by a little bit of music streaming into their houses every blue moon, why not go out for the evening like Dave suggests? The dates are publicised well in advance so it’s not as though you can’t plan ahead!
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I’m stick of the flower show. Crowds of old people wondering around the town, not looking where they are going, no where to park because the town is full of visitors. The quarry looking a mess for weeks while they set up the tents. Can we have it banned please. The quarry gigs are no bother, so we’ll have more, with even better bands playing not the has beens we normally get.
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Mia, here’s a clue for you. The reason no local residents complain about the Vartsity in Wolverhampton is because there ARE no residents, whinging or otherwise to be annoyed by any noise from it. Simples!
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Matt, it’s for one or two nights a year. And there are various flats and student digs not that far from The Varsity, The Little Civic, The Civic Hall etc.
The whole town knew this concert was taking place, if they can’t live with a bit of noise for a few short hours every so often, they should think about living in a field miles from anyone and anything.Shrewsbury is a county town, it’s the hub of the county.
It would be like choosing to live next door to a pub which was there long before you were and then complaining about the noise from next door. Oh wait, no, that happens in Shrewsbury too…
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Most of the student housing is a long way from The Varsity. I know, I used to live in them.
And you will note that there are very few houses and flats in the centre of Wolverhampton. Certainly when compared to Shrewsbury.
“if they can’t live with a bit of noise for a few short hours every so often, they should think about living in a field miles from anyone and anything”
So you are saying that people should move to suit you and what you want?
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Matt, they should move if they don’t like the noise of the town.
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No Matt, I’m saying that if it is a minority which is not happy with something, rather than the majority, then it’s them who should make the concessions.
I’m not getting into a slanging match on here, that’s not what comment boards are about, I just have my opinion the same as you have yours.
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