News / Arts
Downs festival set to return this year
Another all-day concert will take place on the Downs this year after all but one of the committee responsible for the area’s upkeep voted in favour of holding an event on the scale of Massive Attack in September 2016.
A number of angry residents appealed to the Downs Committee to oppose the application to host another one-day festival on the Downs, claiming last year’s event which hosted 27,000 fans violated agreed noise levels and caused lasting damage to the land.
But ultimately, the business case for the concert won over the committee – made up of both city councillors and Merchant Venturers.
Stoke Bishop councillor Peter Abraham spoke at length about the need for the Downs to be protected better and residents’ concerns to be given greater consideration.
He claimed that gigs were unsuitable events for the Downs, which would better focus on organising events of interest to local residents such as flower shows.
The committee was reminded by Redland councillor Martin Fodor, however, that while local residents should be considered, the Downs is supported by and provided for all Bristol residents and should therefore seek to support a broad range of events.
Resident Michael Andrews told the committee that the sound restriction agreed for the Massive Attack gig, which was increased from 65 to 70 decibels, should not be repeated.
“It’s only five decibels higher but that amounts to a volume increase of about three times,” Andrews reported.
Another local resident, Dr Stephanie French, claimed the day of the Massive Attack gig had been “misery”.
But council planners insisted there were good reasons the ground near the Sea Walls had been chosen. Not only does the area have secure ground and good drainage, but it is situated away from the busy junction at Blackboy Hill.
Furthermore, the 2016 event organised by Team Love brought in £40,000 in much-needed revenue for the Downs.
Planners assured concerned residents that the council will push to achieve maximum revenue and acquire lower sound limits for the forthcoming gig.
No acts have been confirmed so far but work is already underway behind the scenes to bring more acts of the calibre of Massive Attack, Primal Scream and Kate Tempest who took part in the Downs festival last year.
Read more: Massive Attack promoters respond to crowd complaints
Our top newsletters emailed directly to you
