Plans for large music event on Wilmslow playing fields withdrawn

by Lisa Reeves

Thursday 26^th January 2023

Thu 26^th Jan 2023

An application to enable a large music event to be held at the Jim Evison Playing Fields on Altrincham Road has been withdrawn.

Stockport based SJM, one of the largest concert promoters in the UK, had applied for a licence to hold a maximum of two events between 20th May 2023 and 15th August 2023 which would take place over a maximum of two consecutive days.

The provisional date provided for the event was 8th July and organisers expected there to be up to 25,000 attendees each day.

SJM have subsequently withdrawn their licence application, so the Licensing Act Sub-Committee meeting scheduled for Monday, 30th January, (where the application would have been discussed) has now been cancelled.

Comments

Here's what readers have had to say so far. Why not add your thoughts below.

James Hanson

Thursday 26^th January 2023 at 10:33 am

That's a shame

Jon Williams

Thursday 26^th January 2023 at 1:46 pm

Good, 25000 a day in Wilmslow, far too many

James Hanson

Thursday 26^th January 2023 at 2:18 pm

I would just like to follow up on my "Furious Old People" comments from a previous post about the "event."

Now it is meant in jest and lighthearted; hopefully, everyone sees it as such.

But there is a serious point here to make, most smaller towns need investment in them - whether it be from things like the BID - which does not get enough coverage. I suggest people go and look at the information about it. (https://www.wilmslow.co.uk/news/article/22703/businesses-back-town-centre-improvement-district-proposals)

But also events like this bring people to the area to spend money at local (and national) businesses, which helps them survive.

There are far too many people who are negative about change and any disruption to their lives.

And these tend to be the people who shout the loudest.

Complacency by most people (including me) means these people get to have the biggest say and block anything positive.

SO.......

LET'S BE POSITIVE, WILMSLOW

LET'S EMBRACE CHANGE

Jon Armstrong

Friday 27^th January 2023 at 9:14 am

I don't think 25000 is necessarily too many. There are about 8000 at the fireworks at Carnival Field each year (according to reports on this site) and that is often in boggy conditions, is always dark, and there's basically just a few snack stalls, a handful of portaloos and some volunteers as marshals.

With a bigger site, better conditions and a company behind it who do this professionally and will get the logistics right, it seems very doable.

Stuart Redgard

Friday 27^th January 2023 at 1:21 pm

#Jon Armstrong

I don't know where you live, but I live on a road immediately adjacent to Carnival Field.

The fireworks display causes carnage on the roads adjacent to the site, and on Altrincham Road. Illegal and dangerous parking to say the least.

I enjoy the fireworks display, and it is for local people and most of the profit is passed onto local voluntary and charity groups.

I was not against the event on the Jim Evison playing fields but had serious concerns relating to public safety. There is only a footpath on one side of the road by the field

T the entrance to Carnival Field on Altrincham road, there is a footpath on both sides of the road and it is quite often blocked by illegally parked vehicles.

The police failed to respond during the consultation stage. We were told by Councillor Mark Goldsmith earlier this month that the promotor had since engaged in discussions with the police. I can only assume that it is due to police concerns about public safety that the promoter has now decided to withdraw the application.

I would be in favour of applications for events at Jim Evison Filed for smaller capacity events.