Creamfields: the full impact

A MORE detailed picture of the impact of this year’s Creamfields music festival has emerged – thanks to a local parish councillor.
Coun Sharon Harris, of Appleton Parish Council says the festival affected a greater number of people, over a wider area and for a longer period than last year.
Writing in the parish council’s newsletter, she said: “Residents in Dudlows Green found the noise and vibration levels intolerable over both days.”
Coun Harris said people living in Daresbury, Hatton, Walton, Moore, Latchford and parts of Northwich were disturbed by the noise.
Complaints lines set up by Creamfields and by the police turned out to be answerphones and at times were not even commissioned, which meant residents could not get through.
Warrington Borough Council did not have a specific line dedicated to the event and this put many callers off from making complaints.
Police were pleased the levels of crime were low by comparison with other festivals.
In total there were 135 crimes, 88 drugs cautions, 29 cautioned for possession of cannabis, seven arrests for possession, one “wanted” man detained and two incidents of robbery and theft.
However, said Coun Harris, there were many unreported incidents of camping in pub car parks, drugs in and around local pubs and unruly behaviour.
People were seen urinating in public, residents were intimidated by large groups of people and police took 50 minutes to respond to one call reporting an intruder.
“Whilst these figures are comparatively low, they are taking place in a relatively crime free area,” she added.
Coun Harris said anyone with concerns about this year’s festival should let the parish council know. She can be contact by email at [email protected]