LETTER: Worried about Blues Festival ‘brainwaves’

I’m sure most of us would like events such as this to be successful and enjoyed by many.

According to your report, Couns Greaves, Kerrigan and Lord have learned from past mistakes surrounding the festival and are mindful of the terrible noise nuisance that has come from amplified music, be it from a town centre stage or a similarly placed fairground in the midst of residential areas.

Mr Stephenson and Coun. White may not recall, or be in a position to recall, that in the past, an amplified acoustic stage in the town centre resulted in numerous complaints of noise pollution and in one year a subsequent finding of maladministration by the Ombudsman against Pendle Council. The council was orderered to pay compensation to long-suffering residents.

It is unclear from last week’s article whether or not the on street drinking of alcohol proposal has been given the green light. Again, from the experience we have gained from previous years such as broken windows, urinating in back streets, vomit, spiralling policing costs and the rest, it has to be hoped it has not. Other towns have experienced this and no longer permit the on-street drinking which sadly fosters this behaviour in some, but to the detriment of all.

I would urge Colne ward councillors to be mindful of the well-being of the majority of Colners who live and sleep around this event and to do the right thing for them. I urge Mr Stephenson to take an overview and to think about the possible consequences of the reported “proposed brainwave.” GEOFFREY COLE

Granville Street, Colne