Rock club’s future at risk after noise complaint
THE future of one of Cardiff’s live music venues is under threat after it was served with a noise abatement notice.
Fuel Rock Club on Womanby Street was given the notice after a complaint from a resident who recently moved into nearby apartments.
The news follows the recent launch of the Save Womanby Street campaign which is urging Cardiff council and the National Assembly to protect Cardiff ’s “music street” as an area of cultural significance.
In a statement, the club’s owner Ron Toogood said: “Following online reports and after taking advice from our industry and legal advisers, in particular the Music Venue Trust, we can confirm that we have been served with a Noise Abatement Notice by Cardiff City Council.
“Since we took over the premises lease full time in November 2013, we have held an average of three live gigs a week, in fact we had a sold-out gig on the very first night that we officially owned the place.
“We’ve held hundreds of shows since then, a mixture of local bands, touring bands, tribute acts, student events and acoustic shows. We’ve always adhered to our premises licence, and voluntarily stopped live music by 11pm, though our licence allows us to theoretically have it until midnight. We have strong policies in place to manage noise, so that music of any type is practically inaudible from the front of the building. We also work closely with the police, striving to offer a safe environment for our regular customers. Since opening we have had no complaints regarding sound levels.”
However, Rob said the situation changed last month: “In February we became aware that a new resident had moved into nearby apartments and was repeatedly complaining in person to staff about sound levels. I met with the resident and explained how we operate, giving him my contact details.
“A few days later, although we have never been visited by an Environmental Health Officer while we have been trading, we received notice from the council that they had ‘investigated the complaints and are satisfied that the noise and vibration emanating from your premises amount to a statutory noise nuisance under the Environmental Protection Act 1990.’”
The club owner said Fuel could now face closure because of the potential risk of hefty fines that could be imposed on the venue. He added: “We met with the council staff that served the notice and discussed the issue. Should we not resolve the issue to their satisfaction, there is the threat of large financial penalties and even permanent closure.”
A spokesman for the Shared Regulatory Service between Cardiff, the Vale of Glamorgan and Bridgend councils, said it received a complaint in January from a resident and Fuel was identified as the source of the noise. He added that further complaints were made and in March, it was confirmed the noise was a statutory noise nuisance and an abatement notice was served.
He said: “The Shared Regulatory Service’s position, on behalf of the local authority, is to find a satisfactory and sustainable resolution to the nuisance. The Shared Regulatory Services is impartial and officers are aiming to work with the venue to ensure all reasonable and proportional steps are taken, so that the statutory nuisance no longer exists or is unlikely to recur.”