Brighton venue closes after 'one neighbour complains'

Popular Brighton music venue The Blind Tiger has announced that it will cease staging gigs with immediate effect because of a dispute with a newly moved in resident living in the same building directly above the stage - which has led to an noise abatement orders from the local council.

In a post on their official website, the venue's management revealed that efforts to placate a neighbour who had complained about noise levels on various occasions since moving in a year ago had failed: The venue tried to help the neighbour move with no joy - and financial restraints prevented the venue installing more soundproofing, After a complaint to the Police, Brighton's council issued a 'notice to abate a statutory nuisance'. Breach of the order could result in possible court action and a £20,000 fine under the Environmental Protection Act 1990. 9,000 people have now signed a petition against the Order. 

in its response Brighton & Hove Council has insisted that noise complaints relating to The Blind Tiger came from more than one resident, and that there have been issues for years. The local authority said in a statement: "The council has received numerous noise complaints from local residents about this venue for several years. Complaints have been received from residents in North Road, Grand Parade and Marlborough Place".

"By law we must investigate noise complaints made to the council. We also have a legal duty to serve a noise abatement notice on those responsible when a noise nuisance is identified. On 14 March 2014 a noise abatement notice was served on the leaseholders who operate Blind Tiger following complaints about noise from live music. The business was given two months to comply with the notice. This gave time for assessments to take place and any necessary sound insulation work to be undertaken".

The Council also said: "Blind Tiger chose to stop operating at the venue when the abatement notice period ran out on May 14 2014. The council has not closed the venue. The council's environmental health team has worked with the business and the police and council's licensing team to try and resolve any complaints received. The council is continuing to work with all parties to try and resolve this case".


Although yet to fully respond to that statement, The Blind Tiger team quickly countered the Council's position via Facebook, writing: "Just seen the Council's statement about our venue today in response to the spontaneous public petition - it's a bit breathtaking, because their reply is variously untrue, very partial and ignorant. We were not angry with the Council before we read that statement. We genuinely sympathised with them that they were only doing their jobs and were quite philosophical about it all. Now we're absolutely livid! We'll write another blogpost tomorrow when we've calmed down!"

More here http://www.blindtigerclub.com/news/view/THE-END-IS-VERY-NIGH--39