NONE of the parish councils in the area affected by noise problems during the Creamfields festival, near Warrington, has offered financial support to two residents ordered to pay £13,000 costs after losing a legal battle to try and stop the event going ahead.
Geoff Owen, a parish councillor at Daresbury and a member of the action group set up to oppose the festival, has failed to persuade any of the councils to help.
He said: “I have been trying to co-ordinate and generate a response from the parish councils around the area, covering Daresbury, Moore, Walton, Stretton, Appleton, Stockton Heath, Hatton, Sandymore and Preston Brook.
“Unfortunately, none have been able to offer financial support for this action – for mainly technical and somewhat complicated rules governing the use of local tax payers money.”
Mr Owen also wrote to Jim King, of Loudsound, the management company on behalf of Creamfields, asking if they would consider withdrawing their claims for costs.
“He was adamant – in no uncertain terms – that no such withdrawal would happen.”
Mr Owen said the appeal was against Halton Borough Council, not Creamfields, on the basis that the council had granted a licence for the event without considering the impact of public noise nuisance on the local community, most of who lived in Warrington.
The appeal was aimed at getting Halton to impose tighter/lower noise levels after 11pm – the licence did not impose any specific limits after that time.
While Loudsound took their responsibilities seriously within the boundary of the event site, their management of the impact it had on local villages left a lot to be desired.
Mr Owen added: “Loudsound/Creamfields need not have provided top legal representation, charging some £250 per hour, plus expenses for staying at the Daresbury Park Hotel.
“I feel they tried to ‘make an example’ of both residents for having the audacity to challenge them on this event, hoping to close off any future opposition and so stifle local democracy.”
However, Mr Owen does not believe Loundsound or Creamfields were the real villains.
“It is Halton Borough Council who should examine their actions in allowing this event, in the face of continued opposition since 2006. I am 100 per cent certain that none of the councillors who agreed to the licence are affected by it.
“How many actually live in Daresbury or Moore, or in the other villages affected by grid locked traffic, litter, people drinking and urinating in the street and their gardens, or lack of sleep after 11pm on the Saturday night?”
Mr Owen said Warrington Borough Council should also examine their consciences. He said: “They have, on many occasions in past years, voiced objection to the event. But when ‘push comes to shove’ they support their fellow council of Halton.
“Why are they not supporting residents of Walton, Appleton, Stretton, Hatton, Stockton Heath and beyond?”
*Two residents, Paul Barlow and Peter Priestner, appealed against Halton’s decision to grant a licence for Creamfields. They lost their appeal and District Judge Miriam Shelvey ordered them to pay £13,000 costs.
NONE of the parish councils in the area affected by noise problems
during the Creamfields festival, near Warrington, has offered financial support to two
residents ordered to pay £13,000 costs after losing a legal battle to
try and stop the event going ahead.
Councils won't foot Creamfields bill
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Gary Skentelbery
Experienced journalist for more than 40 years. Managing Director of magazine publishing group with three in-house titles and on-line daily newspaper for Warrington. Experienced writer, photographer, PR consultant and media expert having written for local, regional and national newspapers. Specialties: PR, media, social networking, photographer, networking, advertising, sales, media crisis management. Chair of Warrington Healthwatch Director Warrington Chamber of Commerce Patron Tim Parry Johnathan Ball Foundation for Peace. Trustee Warrington Disability Partnership. Former Chairman of Warrington Town FC.
2 Comments
The awarding of costs seems nothing other than a sad attempt to silence public opinion! Roll on the Revolution!!!
There didn’t seem to be any ‘mainly technical and somewhat complicated rules’ regarding some parish councils accepting money from Creamfields!
As this wasn’t taxpayers money why can’t the parish councils donate it to pay the costs of parishioners fighting on behalf of the public?
I can see the Parish Council’s point though. It was not the Parish Councils who took legal action against the organisers but the two residents alone.
If the Parish Councils now donate money towards this fine then they will be opening the door to having to donate every time residents oppose something and lose if costs are involved. It could cost them a fortune 🙂 !!!
Did any of the Parish Councils actually STRONGLY object to the Creamfields event this year by the way. If any of them were strongly opposed to it DID THEY fully agree with the reasoning behind the two residents proceding with their legal battle??? if so then maybe they should donate something for not having the guts to speak up and be heard !?!?!? Alas I suspect that only a couple of Parish Councils may have been interested as most would not really be affected.
Can’t help but agree that the two residents have, without doubt, just been made an example of though (to put others off in future years I suspect)…………… but on the other hand why were there only TWO members of the Action Group willing to go the whole way !?!?
How many people were in the Action Group…. ? are they all contributing towards the fine or did they take propper advice and reaslise they were in a no win situation ? I believe that some of the very large houses which would have been affected by the noise round there are home to solicitors etc…. what was their view ????
Don’t like the attitute of the Loudmouth events organisation manager, Mr Jim King, though. He is quoted as being adamant that – in no uncertain terms – no such withdrawal [of the fine] would happen…….. who exactly is pulling the strings? Halton BC, Loudsound/Creamfields or a.n. other ?? Come on Mt King… lessons have now been learned ….. the little residents should just put up with it or face the consquences from the big guys !!!! Lets face it Creamfields organisers can aford to write off the £10k costs they were getting and I’m sure Halton BC could write off their £3k too as no doubt they made a lot of money out of it too !
Maybe a suitably worded petition signed by as many local people as possible (from the areas within earshot of the music.. or indeed anyone else who finds it disgusting that residents are being silenced) and of course sent to Creamfields/Loudsound/Halton BC may do the trick with the wording…………. “We the undersigned demand that Cream/Loudsound/Halton BC withdraw or write off their claims totallying a cost of £13,000 which were subsequently levied on two local residents for having the audacity to question the reasons behing the licence decision…. blah blah blah……”.
Maybe a donations bucket might help too…. but if all else fails the judge may allow them to pay the fine weekly over a long period of time… providing they can prove that the amount of fine will cause them and their families ‘hardship’ !?!?
Gosh I’m babbling again 🙂 🙂