Goa Cream Festival Cancellation: Noise Complaints Lead to Decision
The Goa Cream Festival, which has been an annual highlight for music enthusiasts in Thornbury, north of Bristol, has been officially cancelled for the third consecutive year. This decision comes after complaints from local residents regarding excessive noise levels during the festival held at Yewtree Farm.
Background on the Festival
Initially planned to take place from September 12 to 14, this event marked its ninth year overall. Organisers aimed to recreate the success of past festivals, which featured an array of psychedelic trance music appealing to a diverse audience, including many families.
Local Concerns and Complaints
Despite the festival’s popularity, the South Gloucestershire council received significant pushback from local residents, resulting in the cancellation. Several complaints were raised during previous editions of the festival, prompting councillors to review the environmental impact. Avon and Somerset Police were consulted during this decision-making process.
Specific grievances included reports from residents describing the “non-stop heavy bass music” as “almost inhumane and a form of torture,” as cited by BBC News. Some residents experienced physical discomfort, such as headaches, and reported that the music vibrations were strong enough to shake their homes.
Environmental Health and Noise Monitoring
Florence Fisher, an environmental health officer, informed council members that last year’s festival resulted in 11 formal complaints, citing inadequate documentation of noise levels. “We were only given numbers scribbled on pieces of paper and poor screenshots,” she explained during the council meeting.
Organizer’s Response
Piers Ciappara, one of the festival’s organisers, acknowledged the community’s concerns. He mentioned that the festival had engaged a professional sound acoustic engineer to address noise issues raised in past events. “Last year we only had handwritten notes and photographs… but this year we have a professional team with us,” Ciappara emphasized.
To alleviate local frustrations, he proposed several mitigation strategies, including the reorientation of sound equipment to face away from residential areas and adjusting the hours during which music and alcohol sales occur.
Community Engagement and Charity Efforts
Ciappara highlighted that the festival attracts an audience averaging over 40 years old, many of whom bring their children along, fostering a community-centric atmosphere. He also noted that festival proceeds contribute to important local causes, such as Bristol Suicide Prevention and Sharpness Lifeboat Station.
Conclusion
The cancellation of the Goa Cream Festival underscores the ongoing tension between community events and local residents’ quality of life. As organizers seek solutions for the future, the challenge remains to balance the vibrancy of cultural events with the peace of nearby neighborhoods.
