Residents 'horror' over loud 'music' at annual Solihull Summer Fest

Solihull councillors heard residents’ noise complaints over an annual music festival that attracts big name acts. The popular Solihull Summer Fest at Tudor Grange Park has become an annual fixture which enjoyed its seventh year in 2023.

Among the acts that have played the event over the years have been Blue, Human League, Sophie Ellis-Bextor and Billy Ocean. Solihull Summer Fest has been covered by two premises licences including the selling of alcohol: one for a Thursday event ‘The Night at the Proms’ and a second for a ‘Film Night’ on Friday and ‘Family Music’ on Saturday and Sunday.

Solihull Council officers held discussions with license holders the Original Entertainment Company Limited which led to an application to consolidate the two licences into one to “reduce unnecessary paperwork”. The application recently went before Solihull Council’s Licensing Act Panel for a decision - but members heard it had been objected to by some residents living nearby.

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In a letter from residents sent to Solihull Council complainant Andrew Daw wrote: “As residents who have been tolerating the ill-considered stage siting for the annual ‘Party in the Park’ we are duly horrified at the prospect of more frequent uncontrolled loud ‘music’ preventing our ability to obtain ‘quiet enjoyment’ of our properties. The organisers need to consider the proximity of housing and the taxpaying residents of Solihull.”

Responding council officers said: “The licence application is for exactly the same activities and times covered by the existing licences so the operation will not change at all.” The complainant replied to that and highlighted the licence was for all year round.

But, offering reassurance, officers said organisers would be held to account adding: “Whilst in theory, the licence does allow for the activities to take place every week - this would never happen. Tudor Grange park is owned by SMBC and we would have to give permission for any event to take place.”

Mr Daw responded: “It should be temporary, for the dates of the event only, and renewed annually. With respect the authority’s record in ‘holding the applicant to account’ is not good.

“I am aware a neighbour’s readings of the noise levels generated last year that were well over the stipulated maximums.” During the meeting, held at the Civic Suite on May 28, members of the panel said they had taken into account the noise objection and, on balance, felt the pre-planning process would alleviate any serious noise.

The panel approved the consolidated premises licence saying it was “proportionate and appropriate”. This year’s event at the Monkspath Hall Road-based park is scheduled to take place on the weekend of July 20-21 with the line up including Ronan Keating, Scouting for Girls and The Jacksons.

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