Bid to scrap Quarry sound restrictions
Monday 17th May 2010, 3:00PM BST.
NOISE RESTRICTIONS on live music events at Shrewsbury’s Quarry could be removed if new plans are given the go-ahead, sparking fears among nearby residents.
Shrewsbury Town Council, which manages the Quarry, has applied to Shropshire Council to vary the premises licence.
Residents have expressed fears about the proposal but council bosses said they wanted to reassure people the plans would not “open the floodgates”.
The application is to remove the current sound level restriction of 65 decibels for amplified music and entertainment. This has led to criticism that major acts will not come to the Quarry because they cannot play loud enough.
The council is now inviting people to comment on the application at Shirehall by June 7.
Mike Cox, outdoor recreation and asset manager for the town council, said they had applied to lift the restrictions to save staffing hours at events like the annual 80s concert.
Time
He said: “We’ve introduced restrictions ourselves about the number of events we can hold and the time they can go on until.
“Our policy is that music tends to finish by 10.30pm or 10.45pm and that it doesn’t go on for longer than three hours excluding the build up.
“Last year the only time we reached 75 decibels was on the 80s night when the majority of the noise was the crowd, not the music itself.
“A lot of work goes into checking the level so this would save a lot of officer time for one or two events a year.
“This is not going to open the floodgates for a lot of loud concerts as we’ve already introduced a policy to protect the local environment.”
Last year large numbers of people at the 80s concert complained that the music was too quiet and that musicians and singers were drowned out by the crowd.
But town centre residents have asked in the past for sound restrictions on concerts at the Quarry.
Dr Alan Shrank, from the town centre residents’ association, said: “We’re concerned about excessive noise in the Quarry and to have no limit is not fair on anybody – the audience, performers or residents.”
By Emma Kasprzak
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Here we go again, Dr Shrank and his group will be the death of this town. We have already lost one Quarry Concert,he is not going to be satisfied until the remaining concerts are stopped, and I am sure he will be the first to suggest ‘Quiet Fireworks’ for the Flower Show
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Totally agree Steven. I loved the 80′s concert last year even despite the appalling weather! First time I’d ever been but it was too quiet hence I shan’t be going this year. It’s not worth the ticket price if I can’t hear it any louder than my car stereo.
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yeah this town is for living in not dying in
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I understand the concerns of Mr. Shrank and residents surrounding the Quarry however, events of this kind only take place 3-4 nights (at maximum) of the year. Will a lift on noise restrictions really hurt for these limited events?!
The Quarry, as a Grade II Listed Historic Park & Garden, is not host to anywhere near enough events. It does not provide enough information about its past and current uses and the signage is pathetic. We do not make full use of these facilities and when we do, we worry about silly Health & Safety regulations and ways to restrict the enjoyment of the event – Steven might be right with the Quiet Fireworks!
/rant!
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I think the council should look at a time limit instead of a noise limit. A time limit of say 01:30 for live music Friday & saturday’s and an earlier time for in the other days. IF Dr Shrank and the residents association can’t stand the noise maybe they should arrange to have a short break away somewhere quiet.
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My garden backs onto the quarry park, and we can here the concerts and fireworks clear as da from our living room. It does not bother me really, however for people like us and my neighbours, i think it would be common decency to offer free or half price tickets to the events, like the firework show they have at catterpiller- local residents get free curtosy tickets to make up for the distruption. Just a thought…………..
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I wonder if Dr. Shrank complains about the noise from the Regatta at 0830 on Saturday & Sunday ??
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i agree with dr shrank though, it should be a place of tranquility here, put the concerts on the west mid show ground where they need the business and have unlimited parking, the quarry is for quiet enjoyment
the issue is not just about pollution blighting neighbours but also safety, noise at work regulations are there for a reason, seriously i wouldnt wish tinnitus on my worst enemy and people can get very poorly from being exposed to loud noise in clubs and concerts despite the “perception” of it being too quiet the inner ear is very sensitve to sound and it also causes high blood pressure and other physical symptons not just phsycological stresses
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“…it should be a place of tranquility here… the quarry is for quiet enjoyment”
That’s one opinion. I’m sure there are many other opinions which suggest that it’s a place for enjoying a variety of communal entertainment, but I suspect that those opinions are not voiced loudly enough – rather ironically.
Why do people who are averse to noise choose to live in a busy town centre, where everyday background noise can easily exceed the 65dB level currently imposed?
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Shrewsburylass – the Quarry is magnificent. It was packed with people enjoying the sunshine and the rowing last weekend. Have you seen the state of public parks in most towns? Shrewsbury really is fortunate to have such a splendid park.
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I had this problem 25 years ago when we were booked to play the band stand. Some things never change. Rock concerts should reach an SPL between 110 and125dB I think you will find that one to one conversation at 1m can reach in excess of 65dB. The slightest breeze at this level and you won’t hear a thing. The problem with the law as it stands surrounding noise pollution is that it has nothing to do with SPL weighting and everything to do with what someone else considers a nuisance. As we have a logarithmic measurement of SPL and have had since the early 20th century, maybe it is about time legal guidelines were drawn up incorporating its use. Or perhaps a dB level guarantee when booking your concert ticket and printed clearly upon it.
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The Quarry is a marvellous venue, naturally sutied to such concerts, yet we must bow towards the disproportionate power of the Town Centre Residents Association and their determined bid to ensure Shrewsbury remains an economic desert.
As mentioned, 3 or 4 performances could hardly constitute any degree of unfairness when weighed against the economic benefits that a properly organsised programme could bring. We are not talking about week-long festivals, more an occasional evening of live music, such as many local pubs and clubs used to provide before the eponymous Nimby club twisted the arms of local authority councillors and officers.
Let’s face it, there really isn’t that much to bring new blood into Shrewsbury and while some 80′s coffin rockers may not be everyone’s cup of tea, at least it is a start to pushing forward the diverse cultural agenda that we so desperately need.
If the TCRAssociation had their way, the Flower Show would be delivered in mime with only black and white blooms allowed, supported by the Queen’s Own Mute Guards, marching in Hush Puppies on their tiptoes between 12 and 12:30, followed by 30 seconds of indoor fireworks. Ssssh!
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The problem with Alan Shrank and and some of the TCRA is that they only want Grade II listed events that are OLD (Opera,Classical Music etc although Jools Holland is just about acceptable) and have nothing connected with the word YOUTH or MODERN.
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well said stu a sensible middle ground, a ban is excessive and unlimited as dr sharank says is unfair too, so a third way must be found, i think most people would expect it to be quiet enough to sleep by 10 pm on a school night, 11 pm on the weekend, and perhaps 12/1 on special occasions
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My sister lives in LLangollen and the Eisteddfod drives her mad, infact she usually goes away that week.She would not dream of trying to stop it, it just isn’t to her taste.
I think this is the crux of this.
Alan Shrank wanted the buildings just about left standing in the Shrewsbury explosion to be retained even though they were not ancient,just 1920s pastiche. They looked old however and that’s enough for him.
He rejects anything that smacks of modern, music or architecture not comprhending that the two can sit alongside each other successfully. He needs to acknowledge that there is quality in the contemporary world and it is needed to keep towns vibrant and interesting.
We didn’t have complaints until music that appealed to a different audience was introduced and unless we want Shrewsbury to be a large retirement village those in the town have to accept that with many of the advantages they benefit from there will be some minor compromises to be made.
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if this was a residential area i would be supportive but this is the city centre (town) what do you expect at night!!!
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I think the noise levels are digustingly too loud and instrusive the people that want them scrapped should be told to shut up and stop moaning, funny we seethe same old people moaning about i though….
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i think 65 db is too low but 110 is too high, appreciating its a logerithmic scale, how about somewhere around 85 which is after all the legal limit for an 8 hour shift in terms of the noise at work regulations
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i agree with the comment to put it all on the west mid show groudn, the folk festival was brilliant there
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So Alan Shrank and his gang are at it again. If they dont like the heat get out of the kitchen. The Quarry is an amenity for all town residents,young and old and as such should cater for all tastes.This town is not a museum we should be encouraging people to enjoy it not just a select few approved by TCRA.
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sorry shrank but to be fair to the council and the music loving punters, if you buy a house next to a park, what do you expect ??
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Personally I think we should move all these events to Telford Town Park, after all Telford is a more progressive, forward thinking place, we actually have more people therefore more potential visitors, we actually have a motorway for easy access (yes Mr Shrank that’s when you stick lots of that new-fandangled tarmacadam stuff on top of your dusty cart trail), and let’s face it most of the locals make more noise than the concerts ever wouod anyway !!!!!
Seriously though, the Quarry is a jewel in Shrewsbury’s crown and these sort of events bring untold amounts of enjoyment (and revenue) into the local economy. If you don’t like the noise 3 or 4 nights a year, they are well publicised, treat yourself to a weekend away and stop spoiling everyone elses enjoyment.
This complaining is on the same level as people who by a house by a Fire Station and then complain about the noise of the Fire Engine’s going out ….. to save lives !!!!
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I hope everyone who has posted an opinion here comments on the proposals to the Council!
What would be far better was if they actually put the consultation on-line, instead of requiring people to go to Shirehall!
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put it on the west mid show ground instead, only a ten minute walk away, problem solved
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I agree the west mid show ground is a more appropriate venue for louder sports and concerts and more modern stuff the quarry is for quiet relaxation and heritage things
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louder yes but scrapping them totally is OTT
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So the privately owned West Mid agricultural Showground which is difficult to access is for present today activites whereas the publically owned Quarry is only for pretending to live in the past? (a very false concept of the past! )
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E=mc2 It would not work in the west mid show ground as you would struggle to see the stage properly, The Quarry has a natural hill that works brilliantly with stage meaning that you can see over everyone no matter where you stand why does it need to move?? if it was at the west mid you would still get people moaning! There where people moaning from atcham saying they could hear it. Lets face it what ever you do in the town will cause issue! I think for 3 day of the year a bit of noises is ok, We have to put up with the fireworks every year, I am not a fan of the flowers show however I don’t moan as I know its good for the town!! Let make Shrewsbury better if you don’t want to then move out the town to somewhere like Wellington a place that has really let itself go :-)
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