Funfair unanimously green lit despite noise concerns in Ardrossan

A popular annual funfair in Ardrossan has been given the green light, despite concerns about noise and calls for a new venue to be selected.

Smiths Family Attractions, run by Wesley Smith applied for the facility to be run from May 17 to 27.

Stewart MacKenzie, Team Manager for North Ayrshire Council Environmental Health Services told Wednesday’s Licensing Committee: “We received a complaint previously from two residents in the area and have visited the fair on a number of occasions and I had conversations with Mr Smith.

“On the first occasion there was no noise of any concern and on the second we identified an issue with the generator noise which was the main cause of a possible breach of condition.

“It was our view that if generators were positioned correctly and as far away from houses as possible and are screened by other vehicles there is unlikely to be a statutory nuisance due to noise. We have no objections to the application.”

Residents’ spokesman and mechanical engineer Sam Gorman questioned the accuracy of the generator readings as they were not taken during peak business hours of the fair.

He said: “All of my objections relate mainly to noise, pollution and a feeling of general unrest in the community. I calculated that the fair brings an estimated 100 tonnes of CO2 output and the background estimates that the environmental health officer took which are used should be situated much further away from the properties so it is not impacting on the general wellbeing of residents.

“At minimum it should be 47 metres and my property is located 36 metres away from the perimeter of the fair.

“I understand that Mr Smith has money to make, but we should work together to reach some kind of agreement for both parties.”

Mr Gorman suggested Memorial Field, home of Ardrossan Accies and the football pitches alongside St Matthew’s Academy as alternative venues for the funfair.

Another objector said the fairground had a major impact on her family.

She dreaded the summer as the same songs were on constant repeat and people in the fairground were encouraging revellers to shout and scream. She added it was difficult to go out into the garden while the fair was there.

Funfair owner Wesley Smith said: “My family have operated the Braes and South Beach sites going back about 80 years since the Second World War.

“Over the last couple of years at South Beach I have done my own monitoring and the sound has always been below 82 decibels which is what is required.

“Someone said there has been an issue with litter and if there is any evidence of it being left I would like to see it.

“We are in talks with Ardrossan Community Development Fund to put power points in so perhaps in the future we could take some of the generators away.

“I will take account of the noise of screaming and laughing each day and make sure it is not above what it should be.”

The owner also said portable toilets were being supplied for the whole event.

The licence was granted unanimously but said the environmental health department would make sure the funfair ran in accordance with their guidelines.