Residents 'treated as third class citizens' after Fringe venue negotiates higher noise limit

Last year, The Pleasance in the city’s Old Town was granted a one year licence - rather than the proposed three - from city planners and told to carry out a noise assessment during last year's Fringe after complaints from residents from the nearby Dumbiedykes estate.

Ahead of last year’s decision, residents said they were going through “torture” and claimed the venue had tripled in size over recent years.

Planning documents submitted to the City of Edinburgh Council by The Pleasance Trust for this year said initial discussions with the council had proposed an “NR15” criteria for noise, which is a “noise rating curve” usually assigned to commercial buildings - however the venue claimed it had negotiated an increase to a higher level of “NR25”.

The noise impact assessment submitted with the application states: “Environmental Protection initially proposed an internal night time criterion of NR15. This level is more stringent than conditions typically achieved within acoustic laboratory calibration chambers and is not representative of a realistic residential environment. For example, a well-designed audiology test room commonly achieves NR20 to NR25 under operating conditions.

“Following consultation between the City of Edinburgh Council, Pleasance Theatre Trust, and Edinburgh University Students Association, a revised criterion of NR25 was agreed as a pragmatic and commonly applied alternative. This level broadly aligns with BS 8233:2014 guidance for reasonable internal night time noise environments in bedrooms."

Edinburgh Council planning guidance stipulates that “general commercial noise should meet NR15 when assessed within a noise sensitive receptor”.

In a letter outlining the issues, local resident Andrea Meneghini said: “I have written to [environmental health officer] Andrew Campbell, as well as Angus Robertson MSP and all our local councillors-asking why Environmental Protection has taken the liberty to forfeit our rights, when everyone can find with a simple google search that in other applications the Council demanded NR15 was enforced. I am a sound engineer and I know many music venues (some of them never playing music after 11pm) that were shut down by the council demanding they met NR15 for neighbouring properties.

“Also, let me stress this is a 100 per cent residential, purpose built housing estate, cul de sac with no traffic at front and back, housing a large percentage of disabled, elderly, single parents and highly vulnerable people. If anything we should have higher, not lower standard of protection.”

Mr Meneghini said he did not believe the volume level of Pleasance Grand, the largest Pleasance venue, was able to stay within NR15 and should therefore only be given a licence until 11pm.

He added: “This is pure discrimination and total corruption and it is frankly utterly disgusting. As always, the residents of Dumbiekyes are treated not a second, but third class citizens. Out health and wellbeing doesn’t matter and this council is there to look after Edinburgh University, The Pleasance and The Fringe interests, not the people who they represent and pay them council tax every month.”

Pleasance director Anthony Alderson said: “Pleasance Theatre Trust has worked closely with local residents over a number of meetings to fully understand their concerns. We have carried out comprehensive noise monitoring throughout the festival period and have implemented significant operational changes to reduce any impact.

“We remain committed to being a responsible neighbour and will continue to listen, adapt and improve our operation.”

Edinburgh City Council said it could not comment on live planning applications.