Music Venue Trust Feels the Noise

The recently formed Music Venue Trust has launched a petition calling on the Secretary Of State For The Environment Owen Paterson to conduct an “urgent review” of noise abatement legislation following concerns that long-standing gig venues could face closure after a relatively small number of noise complaints.

As previously reported, The Blind Tiger venue in Brighton and The Night & Day in Manchester (pictured) are both facing problems after local authorities received complaints from residents about noise, with the former closing last month.

A statement said: “The Music Venue Trust believes that venues should be good neighbours, engaging with their local communities and addressing concerns around noise and anti-social behaviour. But we believe that being a good neighbour is a reciprocal process, and that people who choose to live near to community spaces are accepting the responsibility to behave as a good neighbour to their adjoining music venue, church or community space; anywhere it is inevitable and should be acceptable that noise will exist”.

It continued: “We believe this is a common sense approach – if you hate sport, why move next to a football pitch? If you hate music, why move next to a live music venue?”

To find out more and sign the petition, go here.