South Ayrshire Council - News

BURNS AN' A' THAT FESTIVAL - 2006 KEEPING THE PUBLIC AWARE OF EVENTS GALORE . AND THE EFFORTS TO MINIMISE INCONVENIENCE

Final planning and preparations are well under way for the annual Burns an’ a’ That Festival with numerous activities scheduled to take place in Ayr.

The Festival, which runs from May 20th to 29th, is promoted by the Burns Festival Company and receives funding support from South Ayrshire Council and other public sector bodies.

A specialist company, Unique Events are engaged as festival organisers and are working closely with the various Council services involved to ensure that the festival can be a success whilst at the same time trying to minimise any inconvenience to local residents.

To ensure that the public is aware of any potential inconvenience - including noise from the events and an organised firework display - South Ayrshire Council is undertaking a scheme of “public awareness” by alerting the local Press and also distributing letters to householders in streets neighbouring the main venues for events.

Said Linda McClure, the Festival Director: “The planning is well under way and this year’s festival is building on the success of ones that have been staged previously.

“Once again, we are keen that the public knows about the range of events, and at the same time is kept well aware of potential temporary inconveniences – particularly relating to sound.”

Linda explained: “The main focal point for the festival will be Wellington Square where open-air concerts will be held on the evenings of Saturday 27th May and Sunday 28th May between 7.15pm and 10.45pm.

“The concert on the Sunday evening will be immediately followed by a firework display on the Low Green between 10.50pm and 11.00pm. The Low Green will also be the site of a fairground operating over the period Thursday 26th – Monday 29th May. There will also be ‘build up’ and ‘strike down’ works associated with the main events in Wellington Square and this will take place over the days before and after.

“Obviously with open-air concerts and events providing amplified music sound, there could be a degree of audibility within your property. We are making the public aware that Environmental Health Officers have been in detailed discussions with the event organiser and their noise consultants.”

Continued Linda: “This is to ensure that the sound levels are controlled in such a manner as to provide enjoyment for patrons, whilst at the same time ensuring there is no unnecessary excessive disturbance to nearby residents.

“The fireworks display can also produce explosive noise over a short period of time and this can be disturbing, particularly for elderly residents and for pets.

“By distributing letters to residents near where the activity is going to take place we are providing some advance notification, and would hope to remove any element of surprise. In addition, in response to complaints from residents of debris falling within their properties last year, the firing position will be moved further away from adjacent properties and closer to the seafront.”

Environmental Health Officers will monitor the festival activities throughout the period.

Any resident who considers that he or she is being unduly disturbed by the sound coming from the concerts can make a complaint known by contacting South Ayrshire Council on (01292) 266289.

This service will be in operation over the week-end of 28th/29th May to provide a dedicated contact point for the range of Council Services involved in supporting the festival operations and any calls will be passed to the appropriate service area. The number identified above should not however be used for normal Council contact purposes.

May 2006