Council supports need for better controls over Creamfields

At its September meeting, Warrington Council gave its unanimous support to our motion calling for better planning and consultations over the Creamfields festival. Creamfields is held just over the border in Daresbury each year but has major implications for our borough.

This year, residents from many areas in Warrington once again complained bitterly about excessive noise. I do not want to appear to be a party-pooper as I know that many other residents look forward to and enjoy Creamfields every year. It began in 2006 as a one-night event but is now a four-night festival with camp sites.

The licence is granted by Halton Council and residents in Walton, Hatton and Stretton have had to adapt to almost 70,000 people and cars descending on their villages each day. Despite resident’s passes, freedom of movement for those closest to the site is severely impeded. Despite the valiant efforts of the police and the security company, drugs and alcohol were being hidden in and around the site in hedgerows just outside residents’ houses. At least reported crime is very low and there were only 32 arrests this year.

Every year the effect on residents of Warrington is different in terms of sound. Halton Council has stated that there is stringent on-site and off-site monitoring during the festival. I would like reassurance that this monitoring takes place in a variety of areas in Warrington and not just in Halton. Last year a 30,000-capacity indoor main stage was introduced and this year the main stage stayed open until 4am for the first time.

Warrington has little input into the event licence granted by Halton, even though the people most affected live in Warrington. Despite good constructive consultation with our residents in previous years, the organisers seem to have departed from this inclusive practice, preferring instead to hold consultation evenings only with Halton residents.

Appleton Councillor Laura Booth added: Noise levels this year were certainly considerably worse in the Appleton area. The large housing estate to the east of London Road is now home to several thousand people, many of whom do not welcome the invasive ‘thump-thump’ of electronic music played at Creamfields.

I support constructive liaison with Halton Council to ensure that the wellbeing of all Warrington and Halton residents is protected during the August Bank Holiday weekend and that the event which is enjoyed by so many does not have a detrimental impact. We welcome the economic benefits to our town from all the visitors.

Image Credit: creamfields.com | skiddle.com