Leigh Cricket Club granted licence for summer festival deemed 'a step too far' by neighbours

Despite complaints from concerned residents in Leigh over numerous issues with excessive noise, the licence for a summer festival at the cricket club in Pennington has been approved. The event would see live music being played as well as a fairground and children’s entertainment for what is billed as a family event.

One resident said that he and his family had been so disturbed by the annual firework event they had to have a weekend away at that time every year. All three objectors were concerned by the potential noise they would face coming from just over their back fence.

They believe that this is “a step too far” from the cricket club.

Read more: Future of services for vulnerable adults in Salford secured following council agreement

Diane Livesey, a resident whose house backs onto the cricket pitch, said that she can hear the thuds of music from the club’s indoor events late in the evening so was concerned of the level of noise this would make. She said it keeps her up at night when there are events like weddings being held there.

“I have lived here for 20 years and the experience I had was that it was a lovely club that I used to use, but that has changed,” she told the Wigan Council licensing committee at Leigh Town Hall. “I accept that every club has to be commercially viable, but not at the expense of the residents.

“I have rang and rang and rang to ask that the music needs to be turned down. There is nothing wrong with functions and events but I want to know why it needs to be so loud.

“I don’t know why they need to keep pushing the boundaries a bit more.”

She went on to say that if she had an event in her back garden every weekend like the cricket club does, she would be considered to be antisocial.

David