Cannock Chase live music events to double to eight a year

Residents of Slitting Mill have also raised concerns that the section of Cannock Chase closed to the public during Forest Live events will be closed for longer each year.

But Forestry England, which manages the forest, was granted a new license from Cannock Chase District Council on Monday (December 16), which will allow it to hold up to eight days of events each year.

This is double the four per year previously allowed and will also be expanded to allow film screenings as well as live music.

Permission was also sought to increase capacity from 8,300 to 9,999 and increase the venue’s surface area by 20 percent to accommodate the additional spectators.

Phil Crier, who spoke on behalf of Forestry England at Monday’s licensing subcommittee hearing, said the events were an important source of income to help manage the forest, located in an area of ​​natural beauty exceptional (AONB), for current and future visitors. .

He said: “The concerts allow customers to enjoy live music and performances in a very attractive and engaging setting.

“This in itself has the side benefit of encouraging those who attend the concerts to return to the forest with their children another day to enjoy the trails and other areas, and a number of people who attend the concerts use the bars and cafes and shops nearby.

“Increasing the number of event days allows us to achieve greater flexibility in booking artists.

“The second action is to better value the costs involved, which are considerable in the construction of the stage space, sanitary facilities, transport management, fencing around the site, staff and security.”

The subcommittee was informed that conditions were in place to limit the sound levels that could be detected from noise-sensitive properties closest to the site, as well as time restrictions preventing construction traffic from using the roads. local roads between 8 p.m. and 8 a.m. during event setup. process. A shuttle service has also been introduced for this year’s events to encourage concert-goers to travel to the venue from Cannock instead of traveling directly to the venue, which was used by around 900 people.

Forestry England initially sought permission to hold eight days of events between June and September each year, with late evening refreshments being served until; midnight during events.

This was later changed to include events taking place between June and August and refreshments until 11:30 p.m.

The previous operating license for the site was granted in 2020.

The Forest Live concert series has been running in Cannock Chase since 2006 and proved controversial locally when it was first proposed.

Since then the number of concerts has increased to four per year and headliners over the past 18 years have included Status Quo, Jools Holland, Kaiser Chiefs, Paul Weller and Madness.

Two of next year’s acts have been announced so far: former Police frontman Sting and indie legend James.

Representatives from Forestry England told the subcommittee on Monday that measures had been put in place if residents wanted to raise concerns or make complaints and that letters had been sent to nearby residents to inform them of the arrangements. the event.

But Slitting Mill resident Sarah Barber told the hearing: “I’ve lived there for 16 years and not once have I received a letter.

“We have been living with this for so long and there is no helpline number, we don’t know anywhere to complain.

“You say that concerts bring hidden benefits to the region.

“These hidden benefits are causing problems for the villagers and what are you doing about the traffic going down Slitting Mill?

Cannock Chase Council received six objections from residents in response to the latest license application.

However, an objection was subsequently withdrawn.

Opponent Richard Barker said: “Forestry England very recently felled some trees which were used at the concerts as soundproofing between the event site and the neighboring residential area.

“It remains to be seen to what extent noise pollution will increase.

“Over the three days of the event in 2024, there was significantly more interference in the village of Slitting Mill as trucks involved in site development passed; This has never happened before and should not happen again.

“The same goes for the concert audience.

“Parking has always been a problem, with few parking bans on surrounding roads.

“If the maximum number of 9,999 was reached, the area would be blocked.”

Gary Marklew, another objector, said: “When the events began it was agreed that it would only last two nights, for 2,000 people, and that the village would not be impacted by traffic.

“But it has now been four days and the village is no longer protected from traffic.

“As well as the inconvenience this causes, there are also the environmental implications of all this traffic on local people and wildlife.

“This new request represents double the existing one and four times the original one, which we assured would not be increased.

“The roads around the village are not designed for such traffic – with very few footpaths this must pose a danger to public safety, particularly for children.

“Such numbers of people with large quantities of alcohol could lead to an increase in crime and disorder, which we have already experienced.”

Councilor Adrienne Fitzgerald, a member of the subcommittee, expressed concern about the impact on the ground of the additional visitors.

She asked for assurances that the site would be protected.

Councilor Lisa Wilson, who chaired the hearing, said: “There’s a lot of wildlife around this area, so how do you plan to protect it?

“There are a lot of small deer and the area you cover is between two main roads; I know first hand that concerts affect them?

“The people in the village put up with this for a weekend and it’s probably a bit worrying for a weekend.

“Putting it for two, with extra people and extra alcohol, seems like you’re inviting public nuisance and the potential for crime and disorder.”

The subcommittee, however, agreed to grant a license for the new premises, subject to a series of conditions.

Security must be positioned at all exit points in close proximity to all nearby residential areas and pedestrian and traffic management measures must be in place within the slitting plant to restrict non-residential vehicles every event night.

Organizers were asked to write to all residential properties in Slitting Mill to inform them of future events and plans.

It was also recommended to give residents the opportunity to provide feedback after the events of 2025.