Grasshoppers Gets Go Ahead for Music Festivals

No major events planned this year but there could be 6 in 2025

The festivals will take place on the grass pitches. Picture: Facebook

February 29, 2024

Councillors sitting on the Hounslow Borough Licensing Panel on 21 February have given the go ahead to Grasshoppers Rugby Football Club to hold music festivals at its ground on Syon Lane.

This will allow UK Entertainment Group Ltd to hold events with up to 3,000 people attending but no large festivals are planned for this year. Six events (with festivals spanning more than one day counting as a single event) could now be held between May and September in 2025.

The events would be licenced to play amplified music until 10pm on Sundays and Bank Holidays and 10.30pm on Saturdays with alcohol served until half an hour before this time.

The licence granted is for two years and allows for smaller scale events to take place in 2024 with a limit of 500 attendees. Then from 1 May 2025 to 30 September 2025, six events can be held with a capacity of between 500 and 3,000.

A number of conditions were stipulated as a condition of granting the licence including a requirement that a suitably qualified acoustic consultant will be employed to produce a Noise Management plan and to monitor noise levels throughout the event.

The festivals, which would include live music and DJs would be within a fenced off area on the rugby pitches within the 12-acre site. They would be for adults only and would also host food stalls and have two bars.

The PA system for the stage must be set-up and calibrated to direct sound away from any clusters of houses and especially any noise sensitive properties. A sound engineer will be present at all times, and readings will be taken from around the site during set-up to ensure it is within the guidance noted in the Noise Council code of practice on Environmental Noise Control at Concerts. A sound check will take place at 11am on Saturday morning with the benchmark for acceptability being holding a conversation across the site without having to shout.

Details of the festival layout submitted with the application

A representation was received from the Pollution Control Team raising concerns about the application but was withdrawn after consultation with the applicant.

Forty-three representations against the application were received and some objectors attended the panel meeting along with two representatives of the applicant.

The main objections related to a potential increase in anti-social behaviour, crime and disorder, public nuisance and in particular noise nuisance and possible traffic management issues due to the ground’s location. Concerns were also raised about litter and waste management issues as well as the impact of such events on children, local residents and the local amenities including a school and sports club.

The two representatives of UK Entertainment Group Ltd said that they had been approached by Grasshoppers Rugby Club who wanted to obtain other sources of income. Outside of the rugby season the ground generates little income. They added that many nightclubs have closed over the past year alone and there is a feeling that generation ‘Z’ are missing out and festival should be seen as an integral part of the UK economy.

They countered suggestions that they lacked experience in this area pointing out that they had successfully run many similar events across the country some of which were much larger in scale than the current proposals.

It was pledged that if someone called to complain about noise during the event and were willing to provide an address, a noise consultant would be sent out to take readings and suggest appropriate action.