Morning:
8°c
Boss can make stadium rock (but not too much)
Amar Singh, Media Correspondent24 Jan 2008
They are used to hearing the roar of Arsenal fans on a Saturday - but the rock of Bruce Springsteen is a decibel too far for neighbours of the Emirates Stadium.
Residents have protested against plans for two night-time concerts by the Boss at the football ground.
At a meeting at Islington town hall yesterday, councillors approved a licence for the two Springsteen gigs, subject to 23 conditions being met.
But they refused Arsenal's bid to hold a third event at the stadium during the close season.
The US singer is due to perform to 50,000-strong crowds on 30 and 31 May after the Premiership ends - the first gigs at the stadium in Ashburton Grove, Holloway, since it opened in 2006.
Conditions on the Springsteen concerts include an independent consultant monitoring sound levels; a stipulation that the noise does not exceed 75 decibels outside the ground; and a complaints hotline for residents. "Following the concert we will have a review with Arsenal and take it from there," said a council spokesman.
But residents remain angry the club announced the second concert without consulting community representatives.
The Rev Stephen Coles, vicar of St Thomas's Church in Finsbury Park, said: "It is very unfair on residents living around the stadium who will have to put up with the noise.
"I have no faith that a concert will be controlled to the level that it will only be audible within the stadium itself."
Labour councillor Theresa Debono said there were also concerns about increased anti-social behaviour. She said: "If you have thousands of people drinking and stumbling out of a concert it can only mean trouble. There is a feeling residents' views are not being taken into account."
Green councillor Katie Dawson said: "This is not Wembley, it is Islington. It is bonkers to put on concerts without first ensuring the noise will not disturb residents nearby."
In a letter to 3,000 local people and businesses this week, Arsenal's managing director Keith Edelman said the club was applying for permission to hold a limited number of concerts.
He added: "We are working closely with an independent sound consultant and Islington's noise team to ensure the levels set out in the planning permission will not be exceeded.
"We would like to stress that it is not our intention at present to run all-day concerts. The Bruce Springsteen concerts will be staged in the evening on both days and are restricted to finishing no later than 10.30pm."
Promoter Harvey Goldsmith said: "It's a fantastic stadium and the window to hold concerts is very small.
"Bruce Springsteen's gig at the O2 arena was sold out in three minutes and we are expecting 50,000 fans for each night. But we hope residents realise for Bruce you can expect a mature audience - they are not rabble-rousers."
Reader views (3)
Islington should be proud to host such an artist. Living in seven sisters I think it's great that a venue in central London can be used to host such an event. Scaremongering about drunken concert fans is just that. After the concerts these people will be wondering why they made such a fuss.
- Paul Murray, Seven Sisters, London, UK, 27/01/2008 18:53
Report abuse
I was at Bruce Springsteen's 02 concert and didn't see any of the 20,000 people there drinking to excess (people were enjoying the concert too much to waste time at the bar!)or stumbling out of the arena, we all left quietly, having just seen a brilliant concert by one of the best bands in the world. I will be at one of the Emirates concerts but have no intention of being rowdy and disturbing the trendy area of Islington.
- Trish, Colchester, 25/01/2008 19:17
Report abuse
Why does Cllr Katie Dawson believe the residents of Islington are superior to Wembley? If she is happy for concerts to go ahead at Wembley, the same should be true for Islington, however trendy local councillors think the area is.
- Charlie, London, 24/01/2008 12:52
Report abuse
