No change to Shrewsbury Quarry noise

Plans to remove noise restrictions on live music events at Shrewsbury's Quarry in a bid to attract big name acts have been scrapped - after bosses today claimed it would cost too much.

Shrewsbury Town Council, which manages the Quarry, applied to Shropshire Council to vary the premises licence, sparking fears among nearby residents.

But Helen Ball, town clerk, today said the application had been withdrawn because the process to change the existing licence would cost the authority as much as £2,000.

Dr Alan Shrank, from Shrewsbury Town Centre Residents' Association today said the group was "delighted" with the news and claimed the existing restriction of 65 decibels was plenty for holding concerts and events in the Quarry.

Mrs Ball said although the restriction would not be removed, the council could apply to raise the decibel level on certain occasions to accommodate performers who need it higher.

She said: "The application has been withdrawn though I think it is more about cost than anything.

"When they originally put the licence in with the old borough council it cost a few hundred pounds. But now they want a couple of thousand pounds just to amend the decibel level so we thought we would stick with the licence we have got.

"We had one instance last year where the noise of the crowd exceeded the decibel level rather than the actual act so we were trying to take that out of the restriction but not to the cost of £2,000. If there are any specific acts that would potentially increase the decibel levels then we would apply on an individual basis."

Last year large numbers of people at the '80s concert complained that the music was too quiet and musicians and singers were drowned out by the crowd. But town centre residents have asked in the past for sound restrictions on Quarry concerts.

Dr Shrank said: "We're delighted because we consider having excessive noise in the Quarry not only affects residents in the vicinity but all over the town.

"If they really want to have concerts that are going to make so much noise that they disturb lots of people then quite frankly the Qua-rry is not the right place."

By Russell Roberts