Fitties residents win noise concessions over pop music acts - but Haven Leisure are the main winners

Do you like a bit of Abba? Not everyone living on the Fitties does - hence removal of  the outdoor stage from the holiday park

"IT is considered that the  concerns raised by residents of the Humberston Fitties have been addressed."

So said the agents for Haven Leisure following a meeting last April when residents protested about noise from amplified music performed on stage at the holiday park formerly known as Thorpe Park but now known as Cleethorpes Beach.

For the current season, the outdoor stage and screen have therefore been removed.

Largely on that compromise, North East Lincolnshire Council planners have granted retrospective planning permission for  continuation of the rest of the activities area which includes a jump tower, a bungee trampoline, a multi-use games area plus low ropes and high ropes.

A supporting letter to the planning committee from Casey Smith of Haven Leisure's agents, Lichfields, states: "Residents wanted the outdoor stage and screen removed from the application.

"While the council’s environmental health team and all other technical consultees have raised no objection to the outdoor stage and screen, and the council’s planning team has recommended the application for approval with the outdoor stage and screen in place, the park has now removed the stage and screen from the planning application. 

"Outdoor benches and tables will be provided instead."

The letter continues: "The residents stated that the operation of the jump tower causes unacceptable noise impacts and therefore requested for it to be reorientated so that it faces west, in the opposite direction to  Humberston Fitties.

"But, to explain the rationale for the jump tower’s current position, it is located to the west of the outdoor activities area, faces north-east and does not face directly towards the Fitties.

"There is a functional requirement for the jump tower to face into the outdoor activities area, as it allows visitors to watch a friend or family member use it. 

"If it were to face west, away from the outdoor activities area, there would be no views and no opportunities for parents to monitor their children. 

"In this context, and given fact that the jump tower remains in the same general, no amendments to the jump tower are proposed.

"To further justify the existing position of the jump tower, it emits no amplified sound. 

"Instead, any sound created is from people (mostly children) laughing and playing. 

"This is considered acceptable and is entirely to expected in a holiday resort area."

The letter goes on: "Concerns were raised over potential noise from the box bar which is installed next to the outdoor stage. 

"Fitties residents asked for the box bar to be repositioned and/or reorientated.

"There are no speakers associated with the bar and therefore it does not generate any amplified sound.

"The  bar is small in scale and is relatively distance from the nearest Fitties properties. 

"For these reasons, no changes are proposed."

The meeting last  April was attended by Humberston ward representatives Cllr Hayden Dawkins and Cllr Stan Shreeve.

A site visit to the activities area by councillors preceded the planning meeting at which the application was determined.

The ropes are part of the attraction of the activities area

The entrance to the adventure village