Active discussions

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To not understand how this can be allowed without anyone asking local residents?

224 replies

treatmelikeamushroom · 17/01/2025 18:11

Just read a big announcement on our local facebook page saying a 3 day festival with an absolutely enormous capacity is being held on the fields behind my house this summer (my garden backs onto the fields). I don't want to say how big exactly because it's outing (news articles that come up if you google the exact figure) but it's several times bigger than the entire population of the small town I live in! The road access is really bad already and there's really bad traffic that causes hour long delays when the annual county show is held which is only on for 1 day and is a tiny number of people compated to this festival. There's never been anything even approaching this size here before, it's about 10 times the size of any events that the fields have ever held before. It's a fairly small site so to fit in what the organisers say they're fitting in (5 stages including a dance stage run by a very famous nightclub) every scrap of the fields will have to be used right up to the residents garden fences and the noise will be horrific.

But apparently it's a done deal and is all been given the green light by the town council? It's not a busy place at all, it's a very small town and the site has a main road running through the middle of it (so half the fields are on each side of this road) and housing estate running all down one side of it. Usually it's mostly used for just sheep and one or two of the fields (there's about 6 in total) for the small local event like car boot sales or the county show or a classic car show (and those events cause traffic chaos as it is despite being only very small events ) What I don't understand is I walk over those field nearly every day for the school run and there's been no notices about the plans or anything, no local residents have had a chance to see the plans or object or anything. I can't over state how unsuitable a venue this is for what I've read is happening without outing my location but its really really not at all appropriate! Do residents not have to be told or asked about plans for something thjs big and disruptive ??

OP posts:
Thread gallery
5
AgnesX · 18/01/2025 08:04

malmi · 17/01/2025 19:46

YABU - nothing would ever happen if NIMBYs could just veto everything

If you lived across the road or behind one of these sites and had to deal with the debris and antics of festival goers you mightn't be quite so blase.

I'm speaking as one who had people pee up/throw up against my property, fight outside my window and block in my car and the noise for 3-4 day periods. I was grateful at the time it wasn't any worse.

These events weren't a thing when we bought the place, if they were I'd have thought twice. You can't appreciate how much of an issue it is until you experience it.

Original poster
treatmelikeamushroom · 18/01/2025 07:52

Also for those saying I should just name the festival because I'm anonymous on here, anyone who knew the location would then immediately know what road I live on. Local people are mostly seeming very excited about this event and the few who have voiced concerns on facebook have been shouted down and called Karen etc so I'd really rather not make it obvious to anyone local that I'm not in favour!!

OP posts:
Original poster
treatmelikeamushroom · 18/01/2025 07:47

Ilovemyshed · 18/01/2025 07:44

For example:

www.westminster.gov.uk/licensing/view-licence-applications-and-temporary-event-notices

Didn't realise it was that simple, thanks, I will look at this while I'm waiting at swimming later on!

OP posts:
Ilovemyshed · 18/01/2025 07:44

If you google your county council name and view event licenses, it should be online to view.

Original poster
treatmelikeamushroom · 18/01/2025 07:42

Chuchoter · 18/01/2025 07:20

Not if her garden directly backs on to the fields!

Someone needs to stay to make sure their property and garden is not damaged by wandering people looking to go to the toilet, have sex, sleep, steal or just wantonly damage stuff because of alcohol or drugs.

Show quote history

I can't believe I didn't think about the fencing though. Of course big festivals always have a massive fence all round! Remember photos of people trying to climb the Glastonbury fence though I'm sure it won't be that big! So that makes me feel a bit better about it, still not happy this is the first we heard though!

What happens to public footpaths though when a festival fences off the area? Do they stay open or will they be closed?

OP posts:
Original poster
treatmelikeamushroom · 18/01/2025 07:38

Ilovemyshed · 18/01/2025 06:44

OP the Town Council have no powers, neither do Parish Councils.

Planning, licensing etc is done via the District Council (not County Council).
So its the one you pay council tax to.

Get in touch with the licensing team there and find out the facts.

Thanks, we definately pay council tax to the county council, not a district council. I just assumed it was the town council who had the power because they were saying on facebook that the festival had their full backing, and why say that if it wasn't anything to do with them!! I might call up the license people on Monday and ask if a copy is available to local residents?

The lineup hasn't even been posted yet for those asking. World class acts is all the organisers have said and also that full plans will be posted by the end of the month.

I really really am not a nimby, I have lives here years and I welcome the local events that happen on the site despite the traffic chaos and noise they cause, my children enjoy the county show every year for a start and I think it's great for the town to host events and get on the map and bring people in. But this is seriously a much bigger event, it's 10 times the size of anything that's ever been on that site before. The one day county show is loud enough plus mayhem with traffic and parking that goes on for days either side, and that is only about 10% of the numbers coming to this festival!

OP posts:
Chuchoter · 18/01/2025 07:20

YourHappyJadeEagle · 18/01/2025 04:08

I’d just go away for a few days if I didn’t like the acts that were on.
It’s only 3 days in a year. I couldn’t get agitated over this.
I thought you were going to say you had a sex offenders hostel or similar opening next door. That I could get agitated about.

Edited

Not if her garden directly backs on to the fields!

Someone needs to stay to make sure their property and garden is not damaged by wandering people looking to go to the toilet, have sex, sleep, steal or just wantonly damage stuff because of alcohol or drugs.

Chuchoter · 18/01/2025 07:11

Just be aware that Circa 2016 Carmarthen Council agreed to a Christian festival but they were actually travellers using the guise of being Christians and they caused quite a lot of damage. Tesco had to close its toilets and cosmetics/toiletries aisle due to the mess and the shoplifting.

Ilovemyshed · 18/01/2025 06:44

OP the Town Council have no powers, neither do Parish Councils.

Planning, licensing etc is done via the District Council (not County Council).
So its the one you pay council tax to.

Get in touch with the licensing team there and find out the facts.

Utterknowitall · 18/01/2025 04:49

Not first if this is at all helpful, maybe a tiny bit, but I am sure the festival will have it's own fencing. ( Heras fencing? ) So festival goes shouldn't be right up against your fence.

Feelingstrange2 · 18/01/2025 04:23

Listening to The Stranglers from my garden is one of the highlights of my 30 years living here.

Honestly, embrace it. It's the only way!

YourHappyJadeEagle · 18/01/2025 04:08

I’d just go away for a few days if I didn’t like the acts that were on.
It’s only 3 days in a year. I couldn’t get agitated over this.
I thought you were going to say you had a sex offenders hostel or similar opening next door. That I could get agitated about.

DalzielOrNoDalzielAndDontPascoe · 18/01/2025 02:20

timetodecide2345 · 18/01/2025 02:08

You will get free tickets.

But you'll be able to hear it all clearly from your home anyway - whether you want to or not.

DalzielOrNoDalzielAndDontPascoe · 18/01/2025 02:19

Soonenough · 17/01/2025 21:44

I went to a gig at a large castle with huge grounds. Very well run with coaches, etc. However we had to drive along residential roads in the village . I was thinking about what a nightmare it must be to have cars and buses reving outside your house until at least 1am. And the worst part is that for the summer it is almost every weekend and some weekdays .

I haven't been there for decades now, but I used to think similarly when we went to Alton Towers with school at the end of the year.

All these massive coaches and huge volumes of cars regularly going through a tiny little village must be horrendous for the residents. I'm not sure free tickets would especially make up for it.

timetodecide2345 · 18/01/2025 02:08

You will get free tickets.

iwasntexpectingthatoops · 18/01/2025 01:51

My mum lives near where creamfields is held yearly. It's hell for the whole weekend. Good luck

Nanny0gg · 18/01/2025 00:46

Anniedash · 17/01/2025 19:54

Do you own the field? Why do you think your permission is needed for this?

No wonder this country is turning into a 3rd world hellhole, when no one can get anything done without every Tom, Dick and Harry wanting to stick their oar in. Forget about building runways, train lines, housing, business parks and film studios - all of which would help the stagnating economy - now a festival or planned gathering needs permission from curtain twitchers.

Don't be so ridiculous

Garlicnorth · 18/01/2025 00:35

Is it worth £350 to discourage people pissing in your garden? 😈
https://www.electricfencing.co.uk/50m-mains-powered-deer-kit

50m Mains Powered Deer Kit

https://www.electricfencing.co.uk/50m-mains-powered-deer-kit

NoBinturongsHereMate · 18/01/2025 00:24

The hotels, restaurants, security, clear up gangs will all create lots of employment.

Security is probably bussed in. Clean up is often volunteers working for free entry. Hotels and restaurants aren't going to expand based on the extra custom of 1 weekend a year, so it will just be a couple of extra shifts for existing staff - and if they're chains the profits won't stay local. Same for shops.

EnoughNow2023 · 18/01/2025 00:17

Book a long weekend away and don't worry about it

Peasnbeans · 18/01/2025 00:09

Winchester?

Monty27 · 18/01/2025 00:09

What are you going to complain about if you're not privy to any application it seems. There could be double fencing etc. point is you need to find out before voicing any disagreement lol.
What's the line up? 😁

Amybelle88 · 18/01/2025 00:08

I LOVE Creamfields. Or at least I used to when I was a little younger - I used to live in Ibiza so as you can imagine, it's totally my thing.

However, the thought of living near it makes my toes curl. It's not just a few days, it's setting up, then breaking it down, the mess, the divvies pissing around where you live, the behaviour of people and the traffic - I could go on!

I can't fully remember just how close houses are to the perimeter, but I'm pretty sure I don't remember there being gardens backing onto it. OP you say it's nearly hitting creamfields capacity, that's huge and will leave your home a little vulnerable. I'm not sure of the law re: input from residents but I'd be contacting the organiser to query security by your home and I'd expect 24hrs like houses near creamfields have for the duration. If they drag their heels, make it very clear you will record anything and everything and go straight to press should anything happen to your home/should anyone fuck about on or around your property.

Lots saying go away, I wouldn't, I'd stay to ensure your home is safe, just my opinion.

Hopefully you enjoy some of it at the least 🙏🏻

MeTooOverHere · 17/01/2025 23:54

Somethingcloseby · 17/01/2025 22:14

We go to Creamfields every year and absolutely love it (I'm in my late 50's). I would love to live nearby and watch all the set building etc. Have noticed all the security outside the big houses on the road that leads up to it.

To my point. Creamfields is huge, 70,000 ravers for 3 days - can the detractors just stop and think for a moment about just how much money we bring to Warrington every year? We eat out the night we arrive, we stay in a Premier Inn for 3 nights. We shop ok the local shops, we fill our cars with fuel, I could go on. The hotels, restaurants, security, clear up gangs will all create lots of employment. I also went to the Big Weekend last year in Luton and we all streamed down the hill afterwards having had a great time. Loads of locals out in their front gardens, sitting in deck chairs enjoying a beer with great atmosphere. Corner shops doing an absolute roaring trade. It brought £7 million to Luton, a town that isn't wealthy (I love that Big Weekend tends to favour poorer places.)

Just try and look at it from a different POV.

Or try and think of it from the POV of residents whose lives are being disrupted in ways you can't imagine.

Swipe left for the next trending thread