Council chiefs in Aberdeen will write to the Scottish Government to seek help to protect the city’s live music venues from noise complaints.
The move, agreed yesterday at the local authority’s petitions committee, follows the two-week closure of a popular venue after residents complained.
Downstairs, located underneath the Malt Mill on Holburn Street, was issued with a noise abatement notice by the local authority in January after a complaint was made by a nearby resident.
The venue lost trade and was required to install costly noise-proofing.
Following the notice Craig Adams, the owner of the live music bar Krakatoa on Trinity Quay – formerly The Moorings – teamed up with the management of Downstairs to set up a petition asking the council to do more to protect independent music venues in the city.
It attracted more than 2,400 signatures, and yesterday Mr Adams presented his case to councillors.
Members of the committee agreed to the motion put forward by convener Alan Donnelly asking the Scottish Government to investigate the “Agent of Change Principle”.
This is a UK-wide initiative which seeks to force developers building next to established music venues to pay for their own soundproofing, and vice-versa for new music venues opening close to established developments.
Mr Adams, who had to invest about £300,000 to soundproof his venue, said: “What we’re seeking is that where an established venue has made the necessary investment in soundproofing that it’s then afforded a reasonably degree of protection against spurious noise complaints.
“Short of coating the place in depleted uranium or something I don’t know what more I can do.”
Gav Bassett, co-lessee of Downstairs, said: “There is still a long way to go and I hope that this paves the way for progression towards supporting a vital part of Aberdeen’s and the UK’s culture.
“I am hopeful that we will start to see some positive change.”
Last night Mr Donnelly said the committee had decided it was important to protect the city’s “cultural heritage”.
He said: “When you have venues that have been in existence for 40 or 50 years and new residents complain about the noise it’s clear something needs to be done.”
