To think Creamfields organisers should have some consideration?

[whywonthedgehogssharethehedge]

All day today has been accompanied by an uber annoying thumping techno base. I can't open my windows as its so loud and this kind of music gives me headaches. I thought it was my neighbours teenager. On further investigation it appears to be Creamfields. We live 5.5 miles from the festival site. Friends as far away as 7-8 miles can also hear it.

Local fb pages are full of people complaining. Police have told us they can't do anything as Creamfields have "a license to play music until 4am" It went a touch quieter at 11 when the main stages shut off but I can still hear it. It fades every so often then thumps back just enough to disturb me.

AIBU in thinking that their license should not allow them to disrupt everyone within an 8 mile radius until 4am?

I'm also pretty sure they are pumping out a volume that way exceeds safe levels. Have complained to noise department but it doesn't look like they will do anything.

I have lived in my current house for 4 years. I've never had issues like this before. We have heard occasional bits but nothing like this. It's insanity.

[ConkersDontScareSpiders]

If I were you I'd go away for the weekend. It happens every year I think? Better still rent your house out as an air B and B to festival goers and make yourself some cash out of it.

[BikeGeek]

YAnbu - you shouldn't be able to disturb hundreds of people until 4am just because you have a licence.

Late night music is one thing and always been strictly adhered to at the events I've been at. Continuing into the night is a whole different level.

[cherryplumbanana]

I would keep complaining and make sure local people are organising a complaint in mass. If no one says anything, nothing will be done.

I am sorry, but 4am is unacceptable. You can listen to music without the noise disturbing local residents for miles, it's ridiculous. Why is it fine because it's a bank holiday? The world doesn't stop because some people are having Monday off, sadly many are still working.

I hope the local council/ licencing will receive so many complaints that new rules will apply next year. It doesn't have to be all or nothing, people shouldn't be ridiculous.

Opening an airbnb for the weekend? Would you accept completely random strangers in your home if it's not set up for it?

[CMOTDibbler]

I don't live near a big festival, but they were having live music outside a pub in town last night, and we could hear it absolutely clearly in our garden over a mile away. I know it wasn't loud as we'd been by there earlier - the sound just really carried yesterday

[MrsHam13]

Ivykaty of course they do!! Do you think the festival goers get beamed down from a space ship on to the festival site at the beginning then beamed back to their house at the end?

They use local bus companies. They use petrol stations.Possibly some will use mechanics. They use local shops, supermarket's and restaurants. They use local b and bs and hotels.

[Grimarse]

4 am is mental.

Do you get a free ticket? I'd be tempted to go in right now with a cow bell and clang the clapper out of it past every tent I could find. See how they like it, the work-shy fops

[NerrSnerr]

I agree with the others, it's one weekend once a year.

[redexpat]

I sort of agree with the its once a year suck it up brigade, but equally 5.5 miles away is quite far.

[ScarlettO89]

I live in Reading and its Reading festival this weekend too. We moved across town in December and after never hearing it we can from our new house. It's one weekend a year, yes it's annoying but we are just sucking it up and enjoying the long weekend

[NNChangeAgain]

They use local bus companies. They use petrol stations.Possibly some will use mechanics. They use local shops, supermarket's and restaurants. They use local b and bs and hotels.

No, they really don't.

Festi-buses are contracted additional services and are rarely provided by the local bus company.

Local petrol stations lose trade because regular customers don't travel in order to avoid the Festi-traffic.

Shops, supermarkets and restaurants are all on-site - again, local shops lose trade due to a drop in regular custom.

The vast majority of Festi-goers camp on site. The few local B&Bs that may be used often lose money due to increase in cleaning costs - either through deliberate damage, or through inadvertent mess caused by mud/dust etc.

I've seen local economies destroyed due to festival traffic problems and many local businesses close up for the Festi-weekend.

[BikeGeek]

I'm pretty sure Reading festival does not have amplified music until 4 am though. Certainly as a festival goer I can remember short headline acts due to the noise curfew.

[BaronessEllaSaturday]

(outing self)There is a tractor pull near by every August bank holiday for the whole weekend. It is very loud as there are some very large engines involved. The wind direction and strength dictates whether we hear it at all, bits of it or every single engine sound and tannoy announcement. If you are lucky the wind direction will change and hopefully it will no longer bother you.

[Foslady]

I just wonder when people complain about noise from venues how long they have lived there. If you move near a race track, expect noise, ditto open air concert venues that have been running for years........

[cherryplumbanana]

When you know the struggle to run an exercise class at 9am on Saturday if the neighbours complain to the council that the music is too loud (and you can't even hear it unless you are standing underneath the windows!) , I am amazed that it's ever considered acceptable to have ridiculously loud music in the UK past midnight, festival or no festival.

[balence49]

Cream fields is what August bank holidays are for....
It's one weekend a year. Get some earplugs.
I'm so jealous bet they are all having a bangin time. Many many fond memories of pre children raves, this is the best one tho! Amazing wish I was there.

[DesolateWaist]

I agree with NNchange.
I've been to many many festivals where I have had no sodding idea what part of the country I'm in.
Load up car with stuff including food and drink. Drive to the place stopping for petrol on the way. Don't step foot off the site for the whole festival. Buy petrol and snacks on the way home. The local economy gets fuck all.

As for the op's original point I have had similar in my house from a legal warehouse rave in the city centre. The sound was close enough to carry and kept most of the street awake until 5am. I was very pissed off with that.
However I was pissed off because I had no idea it was going to happen or what the noise was. Had it been an established event, like Creamfields then I would be prepared and be able to suck it up for the weekend.

If it is much worse that previous years then it might be worth contacting local council members and your MP about it, so it can be kept in mind for next years event.

[Ninasimoneinthemorning]

I could hear it in the distance and my friend actually lives at the back of the feild and gets free tickets every year.

I've been to a fair few dance festivals but as in getting older I do like my sleep! Even if it is one weekend a year it's still an inconvenience to hundreds of households and brings in hundreds of thousands of pounds to the organisers. If it was free then - meh but people are getting a lot of money at the expense of the residents near by and miles away.

[RustyBear]

I agree with MrsHam about festival goers using local shops and services - at least with Reading, other festivals may be different. Reading town centre is always full of festival goers during the day time and they are certainly shopping, using local buses and eating in town. A lot of them seemed to be travelling light and buying camping supplies cheaply in town, which they probably then abandon on site - though I did see four guys buying themselves quite nice pillows in John Lewis on Friday!

[Mycraneisfixed]

I hate even one night of bad sleep.
YADNBU

[OurBlanche]

We have a few different kinds of festival round here and all of them bring loads of money in. Local companies grow up to provide food etc on site. Children of shop owners buy/hire mobile shops and get first shout on pitches, one festival offers local reduced prices on all pitches.

Local teens get trained to be guides, 1st aiders, security etc, local Uni's host the training and students get a good shot at paid roles.

B+Bs, people with large fields, sell off site parking/accommodation.

Even I get involved, I make cakes and cheap souvenirs for one.

If you do some research into your local festivals and find they do NOT do this then you can get a posse of locals together and talk to the organisers and demand that they offer something in return for good local PR - which is how I got involved with the one I make for!

And yes, they will listen. Good organisers, the ones that last, know the value of local support. It might not seem that way if you are not involved though. They do look isolated, insular!

[TamaraHiddlestoned]

Sorry you had a bad night OP, I suspect it's partly down to the weather - we're closer to the site than you but last night hardly heard a thing (unlike the last 5 years!)
We're on the helicopter flightpath so saw some of the superstars coming in & out (well that's what we imagined anyway).
However as PPs have said, it was there before you, it's not for long, and after all it's basically people having fun. So all us locals can really do is either go away that weekend or find a way to deal with it!

[lightlygoholly]

Off topic but many of you live right near where I used to, in warrington? :)

We are probably moving back! We were thinking Appleton way but maybe not

[Nearlyhadenough]

Planet - my daughter is also there for the first time. Spoke to her yesterday morning and she said that the music had stopped at 11pm on Friday......

There are so many festivals these days that this is an issue for lots of people in many parts of the country. I think there does need to be consideration for the locals, maybe give out earplugs as well as free tickets???

[WamBamThankYouMaam]

One weekend a year, which is heavily advertised so you know the dates well in advance.

When I've been they have far more chilled acts on after midnight so quieter and less of a thump.

When you move to within a radius of a festival or open air gig site then it's part and parcel of living there.

We live 6 miles from Heaton Park, and yet knew which songs were being played when the Stone Roses and Oasis played there. Not a huge deal.

Complaining to the council is a waste of your time. Noise levels are continually monitored at events like that. The slightest breach will be actioned immediately.