Falcons’ fan zone plans cause local ruck-us
RUGBY CLUB KEEN TO HOST MORE EVENTS AT STADIUM
THE Newcastle Falcons are bidding to create new ‘fan zones’ for rugby matches at Kingston Park – and want to host more drive-in cinema events.
The club wants to establish two outdoor food and drink areas on match days to help fans stay socially distanced when supporters are finally allowed back into grounds.
Under plans lodged with Newcastle City Council, the Falcons are also applying for a permanent licence to screen films in the stadium’s car park – for repeats of the drive-in cinema events held there last year.
However, the idea has been met with opposition from some neighbours who have complained that the film screenings caused “pretty much unbearable” and “incredibly stressful” noise from the beeping of car horns.
At a hearing of the council’s licensing sub-committee on Tuesday, solicitor Richard Arnot sought to reassure objectors that Kingston Park was “not turning into some sort of entertainment facility”.
He added that the proposed fan zones, located outside the stadium’s south stand and north west corner, were simply proposed as a means of reducing congestion inside the concourse.
If the plans are approved by the council, the areas could feature food vendors and bars – but will not be allowed to play music and will only be open two hours before kickoff and one hour after full-time.
Mr Arnot added the fan zones would not result in larger crowds coming to the area and everyone in them would require a match ticket – so passers-by could not just walk in for a pre-match pint.
He said the plan “makes a great deal of sense to provide people with an environment they would be more comfortable in” as lockdown measures are eased.
Eight neighbours in Kenton Bank Foot lodged objections against the scheme – with complaints about noise, people urinating against neighbours’ fences, and throwing bottles and cans into gardens.
One resident, Anthony Holt, said that the recent cinema and pantomime events at Christmas were
“incredibly noisy to the point where they interfered with us working from home” and the situation was “incredibly stressful”.
Neighbour Shelley Wright told the committee that car horns were blaring not just at start and end of the films, but throughout the screenings and that the sound was “pretty much unbearable”.
Mr Holt also raised concerns that the homes are still being built next to the stadium and many future residents have already signed contracts but not moved in, thereby would not have the chance to oppose the Falcons’ plans.
Mr Arnot said there was “no desire to upset or disturb anybody” and that the cinema events would have no alcohol being served and no loudspeakers, with the sound instead coming through car radios via a bluetooth connection.
He also promised the panto event would not be repeated, accepting that it caused a nuisance to neighbours and the audience was asked to participate by beeping horns.
The council said it would issue a decision on whether or not to approve the Falcons’ licence application within five working days of the hearing.