Anger over noise levels as parks licence is granted

A total of 13 events could be staged each year in the Polegrove recreation ground, Brockley Road, and Egerton Park.

Rother District Council (RDC) head of amenities Madeleine Gorman said the council were aware of the concerns many residents have expressed about increases in anti-social behaviour and noise pollution, but added: "The intent is not to dramatically increase the number of entertainment events in the Polegrove."

Some 45 objections were made over the scheme, which the council says will accommodate the increasing numbers of partygoers joining the Party In The Park in the Polegrove over the weekend of Bexhill Carnival. The previous license only allowed for 500 people.

At the town hall on Monday, angry residents called noise levels in last year's Edgyfest, the Christian rock festival which ignited the license controversy: "hopelessly high", and petitioned the council to stand by a decision taken last May to scale down the same application.

John Walters, of Park Road, lives 11 metres from Egerton Park.

He said: "The suggestion that is was not unacceptably loud is wrong.

"The 75 decibel limit is hopelessly high. These restrictions are some of the laxest I can see. Edgyfest, and other events like that, simply aren't suitable. The noise is in the foreground all the time. We don't need to turn residents' living rooms into a nightclub."

Some restrictions were tightened before the licence was granted. Noise control plans must be submitted three months before an event, and Egerton Park's decibel limit was set at 65, with no more than one event per month, and not on consecutive months.

Music up to 75 decibels is allowed in the Polegrove, where events can carry on until 10.30pm. Again, only one event each month is allowed. Neither licence covers the sale of alcohol.

Ken Roberts, of Monserrat, West Parade, said: "We are not all killjoys wishing to stop everything in the Polegrove.

"What begins to impinge on things is when we can tell you the name and number of every competitor in the Bexhill marathon as we are sitting listening to our television."

Jim Milne, who collected a petition on behalf of the residents of St Thomas, West Parade, raised more concerns about intrusive floodlighting.

"There are 174 flats of basically retired people.

"When the floodlighting is left on all night, I feel that someone should be thinking hard about why that should be. It intrudes into people's rooms."

Madeleine Gorman said: "I can absolutely say we have no intention to increase the number of events in the Polegrove at this stage."

Chairman of the committee, Cllr Wendy Miers, said: "There are many things which we currently feel need tightening up which cannot be done through this licence but will be done through conditions of hire."

Do you agree with the council's decision? Are you affected by noise levels? leave your comments below.