Forum Topic

RÜFÜS DU SOL Gunnersbury Park

Is that where the music is coming from. Not sure if its the conditions but now and then the loudness and thumping feels like the earth is shaking and im on the Avenue. Why do i get the feeling locals to the park are not going to be happy. Its like someone turns the amps up now and then for about 5 secs

Julian Pavey ● 1493d38 Comments

Thump thump thump wafting on the wind as far as Chiswick Park. Must be unbearable closer by. Time to take action and accept no nonsense about magic sound systems that can't be heard outside the perimeter of the Park.

Peter Evans ● 1493d

This is Ealing council Noise Nuisance number to log a complaint with.020  8825 8111Hold on when it says out of hours, then press 4 for Noise and you get a real person. Then the Noise team will call back. Perhaps if they get inundated…

Alice Sheridan ● 1493d

Parks are to be enjoyed in the few summer months we have and need the money leave them be they will have a license and have to stop at the prescribed time, if you opt to live near a park, chiswick house, a pub some noise goes with the territory.

Jayne Thorburn ● 1493d

When most of the people opted to live near Gunnersbury Park, the only sound to be heard was a few shouting footballers, children playing, and the click of bowls. They had no idea it would be turned into a noisy event venue and I'd say they have every reason to complain about it.

Peter Evans ● 1493d

Near the park? I’m 3 miles away and can hear it.

David Turner ● 1493d

Will people complain about a roaring crowd in Brentford?Will they complain if another genre of music were being played? Something more to their liking?Will they continue to complain about a city being a city?

David Lesniak ● 1492d

Yes

Richard Greenhough ● 1492d

Some sounds are more intrusive and irritating and so difficult to ignore than others.  Yes, government cuts to state funded facilities mean they are doing this to survive.  It doesn't mean we should just have to put up with anything and everything.

Philippa Bond ● 1492d

I heard the noise all the way through yesterday in north Chiswick. It didn't cause me a great deal of concern and I didn't call to complain.However, I do have a friend who lives near Popes Lane and she says that the events are a nightmare for them both the noise during and the aftermath. What she claims is that the council environmental health team don't send anyone out to the concerts to monitor compliance with the licensing conditions with regard to noise and the event organisers therefore know they can completely ignore this as measurements taken by residents won't be deemed as acceptable as evidence. Can anyone confirm this is true?

Anita Blake ● 1492d

Isn't Gunnersbury Park now within a new Chiswick Ward and thus, for noise matters, come under the jurisdiction of Hounslow  Council?

Jim Lawes ● 1492d

From their published accounts Gunnersbury spend 1.2 million pounds per year on administration delivering substandard services including no more green bowling and football and cricket pitches strewn with rubbish. It's no wonder that they have to have such events and this has absolutely nothing repeat nothing to do with government cuts Philippa you can't get trolling that out every time.

N V Brooks ● 1492d

Well it hit the front page i see. Says "A significant number",love to know how many that is Personally it does not bother me but i do feel sorryfor a section of our society living very close. As mentioned,if it was loud but classical music some would have a varied view. I think we need the "Sex Pistols Experience" to do a gig so we get more noise but less base👍

Julian Pavey ● 1492d

But these events only happen a handful of times every year and the revenue they create for the park is what is making the park look so amazing at the moment. The lottery money it was given ran out a long time ago I’m sure.I’ve been using the park since I was a child and it’s the best it’s ever looked. It’ll be even better when the second house is renovated.Also we are living in London, it’s summer and people are enjoying live music again after a 2 year pandemic. Let’s let them enjoy it. Why not just go out of the area for the day if it’s bothering you? Or put on headphones and  listen to whatever sound you choose. No need to see it as just a negative thing.

Yasmeen Alzubaydi ● 1492d

" Philippa you can't get trolling that out every time."You beat me to it, as sure as night follows day Philippa will try and blame the worlds woes on the Government

Paul Fisher ● 1491d

It’s really ok for people to be negative. It’s allowed. It’s an opinion .  It often doesn’t change much but it gets it off your chest. It’s nobody’s business to tell people who are badly affected by the noise, in their own home, that they are wrong to feel that way.  Ignore if you disagree.

Maggie Dodge ● 1491d

I think that is right Jim. Although the park previously was run on a joint basis by Ealing and Hounslow, it was always effectively Hounslow Borough and any events are licensed by them.Anita's point is concerning. There is no doubt that there is a conflict of interest with the licensing authority also financially benefitting from these events. I find it very difficult to believe that the noise was withing the guidelines but, if it is not being efficiently measured this is difficult to prove.

Jeremy Parkinson ● 1491d

Deep bass clearly audible in Grove Park at 10.19 Sunday night as the event ended - 1.4 miles from the site.

James Wisdom ● 1491d

I wouldn’t say it’s ok for people to be negative but obviously it’s ok for them to express an opinion. My response wasn’t rude or negative, I was putting another spin on it. Interestingly you’re doing to me exactly what you’re telling me not to do to others. I’m expressing my opinion, getting it off my chest. Ignore if you disagree!

Yasmeen Alzubaydi ● 1491d

It did seem a lot louder than normal. Could it have something to do with the nature of the bands playing. My knowledge of music ends in the min-nineties so I had never heard of these bands but could it be that they tend to be more bass than treble? Also was atmospherics an issue? Sometimes we can hear noise from the Brentford stadium on match day and sometimes we can't.

Ann Clark ● 1491d

Putting another spin  on it 😂interesting choice of words.I’m not doing anything to you. You can say you’re happy with the situation, you can say it doesn’t bother you. Just don’t criticise people who are being badly affected and are saying so. It’s their experience

Maggie Dodge ● 1491d

"was atmospherics an issue?"  I believe so as the noise drifted in and out and also the volume for split seconds went up and down. Sometimes given the conditions you can hear the odd plane 9.5 miles away taking off to the west. Not often but just on the odd occasion

Julian Pavey ● 1491d

Not fluctuating, not drifting in and out, but continuous heavy thumping. The sound system was designed to point from the bottom of the park towards Acton Town station.

James Wisdom ● 1491d

Walking my dog on Ealing Common the noise was horrendous. Only stayed until my little dog had releieved herself And yes  ...I did clear up after her !!!

Beryl Bashford ● 1491d

I do not see why we octogenarian and nonogeneration folk should have to stay indoors instead of sitting in our gardens  and enjoying being outdoors due to the horrendous  thump., thump, of that so called music. . Dread to think what it was like for people wanting to picnic .  Conversation would be out of the question. .Music of that calibre should be played way out in a field in the countryside like Glastonbury.

Beryl Bashford ● 1491d

And it did just that and right through Acton to Ealing Common and West Ealing . !!I know because I nand friends live in that area.

Beryl Bashford ● 1491d

Because weekdays are so manic plus having a busy personal life including a lot of care for multiple animals  I desperately need ny sleep. Being  woken up on Saturday and Sunday mornings in north Chiswick  by a band earning megabucks is bloody annoying.

Claire Moran ● 1491d

Read my reply. I wasn’t criticising. Anyway I’m not engaging with you anymore. I’ve just looked at some of your past posts and how you interact with people. You like winding people up  and I’m not interested in exchanging thoughts with people like you. Now I’m criticising 😏

Yasmeen Alzubaydi ● 1490d

Is there anything one can do?  I can't believe that "music" from there can thump all the way to Acton. There must be a limit to decibel levels.It was making me sick. Can't we gang up and approach the council?

Sarah Vickers ● 1489d

For the two or three days of the year that there is music on the air why not throw open your windows and doors, open some wine and sit in your garden for a free concert?After everything else that has happened / is heppening in the World I honestly think some people just need to relax.

Chris Blackwell ● 1489d

I am with you Chris, we live in London, it is fantastic that our creative people can perform again, entertain thousands. If we live in London we do have to learn that on occasions there will be noise. Someone mentioned the 80’s and 90’s year old remember you were young once and older folk tried to spoil your fun. Grow old gracefully, allow the young to be young and creative talent to entertain. Autumn/winter is coming let’s make the most of light warm evening before colder nights and stuck indoors. Chiswick is for everyone stop moaning 🙏🙏🙏🥂

Jayne Thorburn ● 1489d

Chris, as I said previously I didn't have a huge problem with these concerts but the idea that they were an enhancement to to quality of life of people living in the area was a bit of a stretch. I was in my garden when they were on and only the bass range was reaching us which meant any song was impossible to identify. It did annoy the dog intensely as he was confused about where the noise was coming from and kept barking at it.My friend who lives much closer said it was impossible to remain outside while the concerts were on as, even if they had liked the bands, the sound was already distorted by the time that it reached them. Then they had to deal with all the issues with litter and anti-social behaviour afterwards.I think it is a good thing that these concerts are held in local parks and appreciate the benefit we all get from the extra money that can be gained for maintenance. However, last weekend the noise did seem to be greater than it ever was before. The concern would be that, to encourage events to be held locally, the council is adopting a 'light-touch' approach to noise limits and the event organisers are aware that breaches are not going to be enforced therefore turn up the volume. As far as I am aware there is no real-time monitoring of the noise levels and the events effectively mark their own homework. We have the Pub in the Park event coming up soon, and while this is smaller in scale, it is closer so will have a more direct impact on Chiswick residents.

Anita Blake ● 1488d

Yep, we shall be going to Pub in the Park with our offspring and friends. Looking forward to it muchly!

Chris Blackwell ● 1488d

We are going too been every year fantastic event, grab a ticket if you can, a wonderful event at Chiswick House. Just shows you can’t please everyone I completely support these events, great all round and if you live locally to a park, either join in, go away or simple accept you live near a park events will happen creating enjoyment for so many people, much needed revenue and opportunity for creative talent.

Jayne Thorburn ● 1488d

" For the two or three days of the year that there is music on the air why not throw open your windows and doors, open some wine and sit in your garden for a free concert? "Indeed. Which would be fine if everybody had exactly the same taste in music. Along with a garden." After everything else that has happened is heppening in the World I honestly think some people just need to relax."And be forced to listen to music which isn't to their taste so that other people may relax. How thoughtful.michael adams

Michael Adams ● 1487d

Just tell that to the wildlife and their families for whom it's home.  They must have been absolutely terrified.  But as long as a bunch of idiots and old hippies ate having fun, they just don't care.

Claire Moran ● 1487d

Claire - I suspect wildlife is a lot more adaptable and resilient than you seem to think or indeed you appear to be! If you really can't stand the music(!) then simply don some headphones and listen to your own music, or a podcast. It's only for a relatively short time after all and only for a few nights of the year and in a town we all need to compromise.Unless (according to you) you're an idiot or an old hippie like me who doesn't care.

Chris Blackwell ● 1487d

I like old hippies but they are not all deaf like people seem to be these days.  And most animals have better hearing than "humans".

Sarah Vickers ● 1486d

The follow up report on the Gunnersbury Live event in this week's newsletter provided some interesting extra background although there remained quite a few unanswered questions.For those whose argument seems to be basically 'this wasn't a problem for me, therefore it isn't a problem at all', you need to bear in mind that the principal that the authorities should stick to the rules is important for everyone. Hounslow Council say they are investigating but they aren't going to convince people who sincerely believe that the noise at these concerts was above the legal limits that they are wrong unless they put the conclusions of the investigation along with all the data in the public domain.

Jeremy Parkinson ● 1484d