Ealing Councillor Demands Assurances Over Controversial Techno Event

Follows complaints over noise, mess and damage after festival at Boston Manor Park

An Ealing Councillor is seeking assurances from Hounslow over a controversial techno event planned to take place over two days in Boston Manor Park next summer.

Junction 2 which is held under the M4 motorway in the park is described as ' an underground electronic music festival. It first took place on Saturday 4th June 2016 and last summer it was described by MixMag as ' London's best techno event'  and it was a sell out. However,whilst music goers were largely happy both Hounslow and Ealing residents complained.

Mike Jordan Vice-chair of Boston Manor Residents’ Association said: '' The event was a local disaster with very loud continuous music all day and heard over a wide area, extremely poor security, excessive rubbish extending into Ealing Borough area which they refused to clear up and drug consumption in view of youngsters.''

Other residents commented that the festival was in the wrong place and it provided no benefit to the park.  They met the event director and operational manager and voiced further concerns about this year's event, including:

• the meadow has been severely damaged with the probable loss of biodiversity, including the wild flower area planted in memory of Alice Gross;
• attendees were urinating in residential gardens and against lamp posts;
• trespass down private alleyways and rear gardens;
• complaints to the hot line were not well handled;
• a lot of rubbish outside of the park that was not cleared up;
• planned open air urinals were too open;
• Boston Manor Park and the local community see no benefit and no improvements to the park as a result;
• noise checks started early in the morning and travelled quite a distance;
• anti social behaviour on the approach to the park.

Not all locals are opposed however and discussions on local social media groups have shown support for future festivals.

The organisers have now applied to Hounslow Council for a license for two events covering Friday night and and Saturday in 2018. Friday night would be an evening concert for up to 4000 people on 8th June 2018, 6.30-10:30pm. Saturday 9th June would be the music festival from noon to 10:30pm. Both nights allow a further half hour for people to leave, closing at 11pm. Around 15,000 people are expected to attend.

Whilst the park is in the borough of Hounslow the noise was heard throughout Hanwell and Ealing. Northfields Councillor David Millican says: '' I received numerous complaints about the excessive noise.  The bass boomed out all day from 8:00AM until 10:30PM. Large scale music events like this are fine so long as they are managed properly without too much inconvenience to the thousands of residents who live nearby.  I have been liaising with Hounslow’s Chief Executive and council officers. If it goes ahead next year, I want to ensure that, along with local residents, I will be fully consulted.''

A spokesperson for Junction 2 said: '' "the licence is in its consultation period, where representations are lodged.  Once all representations are received we can then respond individually. As part of the debrief and planning process, most of these concerns have been highlighted we have have addressed them in planning for 2018"

If you wish to comment on the licence application please email licensing@hounslow.gov.uk by the 25th October with reference to the relevant considerations and evidence.

4th October 2017