Thousands back Forest of Dean pub after noise complaint over live music
More than 2500 people have signed a petition backing the Rising Sun Inn in Moseley Green
Thousands of people have rallied behind a Gloucestershire pub whose tradition as a popular live music venue “is now under threat” after a noise complaint from a neighbour.
The Rising Sun Inn in Moseley Green near Parkend in the Forest of Dean attracts hundreds of people on a Sunday afternoon.
But the pub’s rising popularity as a live music venue which hosts local bands over the last decade has led to noise complaints being lodged with the Forest of Dean District Council.
Landlady Nikki Roach has set up a petition backed by more than 2,200 people calling on the council for more support for live music at her pub by providing clear and fair guidance on noise levels for community venues.
The Rising Sun has “proudly hosted live music events featuring local bands” in their marquee since 2013, according to the petition.
And performances have become a “cherished” part of the community “drawing music lovers, families, visitors, and locals together to enjoy a vibrant and welcoming atmosphere”.
However, the petition says this tradition is “now under threat due to a small number of complaints from a nearby resident”.
Ms Roach told the Local Democracy Reporting Service that the inn has become a popular summer venue for local bands in recent years which attracts hundreds of customers.
But someone complained about the noise last year.
“It’s huge for us,” she said. “We get really busy, it brings in a lot of people.
“It’s good for local bands, we get loads in and people love it.
“We’ve become quite a known venue for our Sunday afternoon sessions.
“We do live music outside in our marquee and we run it from 3pm to 5pm every Sunday, so it’s not late.”
She said they had a meeting with the council after the complaint last year.
“They suggested a few things like we just do acoustic music,” she said.
“But that is not what our locals want and like.
“So then they suggested a few things. We had a guy out who is very good at acoustics and we came up with a few plans to move the bandstand a little bit.
“And have a decibel reading every week so that we could monitor it.
“We’ve done a risk assessment. So everything the council has asked us to do, we’ve done.
“We don’t have music through the winter but we’ve started our Sunday music again and we are adhering to everything they’ve asked us to do.
“We did the petition to let them know that actually while one person is complaining a lot of people really like it.
“Some of the other neighbours who don’t necessarily come, they sit in their gardens and listen.”
She said they have moved the marquee from their lower garden to the top car park so that it is away from the neighbours. But there has been another complaint again this year.
“I’ve gone back to the council and have told them what we did and that the sound levels were no different than any other band.
“They’ve only complained the one week but I don’t know why.
“I haven’t heard anything back from the council now, so I don’t know. I’m waiting to hear back.”
She said they would like to see some support from the council. “I get they’ve got a job to do as well and they’ve got to keep everybody happy,” she said.
“But I had said to them at the time, one person complained but a lot of people really, really love it.”
A spokesperson for Forest of Dean District Council said they support a thriving hospitality and live music sector across the district and greatly value the significant contribution that local venues make to our communities.
But they also have statutory responsibilities in relation to licensing and environmental protection.
“Premises licences are granted in accordance with the law and may include conditions intended to support the licensing objectives and help minimise the impact of activities on nearby residents,” a spokesperson said.
“The premises licence for the public house at Moseley Green includes conditions that have been in place for a number of years, including provisions relating to live music and noise management.
“Council officers are committed to working constructively with licence holders, residents, and other stakeholders to support compliance with licensing requirements while helping businesses to operate successfully.”