Esther McVey is urging Cheshire East Council to re-open its consultation on whether to allow a two day music event to go ahead in Wilmslow – to allow more people to have their say.
The Tatton MP has been contacted by residents who were unaware of the proposed event at the Jim Evison playing field, on Altrincham Road which could see up to 25,000 people at the site on each day.
The original consultation ran across the festive period and with many only now finding out about the event, their views will go unheard.
Ms McVey added: “Whether or not you are supportive of such a significantly sized event it is important that people who are local to the site are aware of it so that they can express an opinion either way. People need to know and be allowed to have their say and many were unaware of the consultation as it was conducted over the festive period, so the right thing to do would be to allow residents to contribute and for the council to take those views into account before a decision is made. I am now hearing from people who have written to the council but are being told because the consultation is closed their views will not be considered.”
An application has been submitted to allow the event expected to take place on Saturday July 7 and Sunday July 8 with live music between 4pm and 10.30pm. Included in the application it states sound checks would take place from 10am each day.
Ms McVey responded as part of the consultation setting out her concerns but is getting increasing numbers of residents contacting her concerned over noise levels and the fact, they were unaware of the proposals.
Ms McVey added: “The issue is not whether a large commercial two day music event should happen in Wilmslow but whether that is the right location given it is on a main arterial road into the town and the congestion it would cause.
“There is also the issue of parking and the potential to have up to 10,000 cars wanting to park to access the event, along with safety concerns that if for any reason the event needed to be evacuated, people would be pushed out onto the road.”
Ms McVey will be passing on all concerns raised with her to Cheshire East Council.
