With Mayday fast approaching the volunteers at the Penrith Lions are busy preparing for the 2024 Mayday Carnival in Penrith, the annual event that brings the community out to enjoy the sights and sounds of the parade and the day’s entertainment and events.
For what’s thought to be 20 years the towns BlueJam band have brought the streets of Penrith alive as the parade makes its way through the town centre with their captivating sounds. But the 2024 parade in May will be a silent one as Westmorland and Furness Council enforce noise limits that mean the organisers are having to cut traditional elements of the towns Mayday celebrations.
The noise level rules Westmorland and Furness Council are enforcing will see volunteers from the traditional Blue Jam Samba band BJamba ‘no longer able to take part’ as the council rules categories them as ‘too noisy’.
Other Penrith events have also faced increased red tape and rules imposed on them by the new council including the towns annual Christmas lights switch on and the Winter Droving.
Some of the organisers of town events have said the increased pressures and bureaucracy could see some annual events come to an end in Penrith.
Questions have been asked over the council’s actions and if they are applying the regulations equally to all events such as the upcoming Kendal Calling event just outside Penrith and other events across the council district.
Since the article was published Westmorland and Furness Council has given a statement on the situation:
A spokesperson for Westmorland and Furness Council said: "We can categorically state that there is absolutely no ban on bands taking part in this year's May Day celebrations in Penrith and Westmorland and Furness Council is not enforcing noise limits that will prevent bands from taking part."
"As with all large organised events and in line with national guidance and legal requirements, the council routinely liaises with event organisers to ensure measures such as appropriate health and safety, food hygiene standards, public liability insurances and any required road closures are in place to protect both the public and the event organisers."
"This includes discussions about noise levels and basic information and advice, such as asking organisers to consider the location of any static positions of bands or stages where bands may be performing for prolonged periods, so performances do not cause undue disturbance to nearby residents. All we advise is that organisers planning any static band positions or stages consider consulting nearby residents as a courtesy and to check noise levels in those locations."
"To be clear though, this does not apply to carnival or drumming bands in processions or parades. Drumming in a parade is not, and has never been, an issue and the council has never 'banned' any band from taking part in any parade."
Westmorland and Furness Council has also said that it has contacted both the Lions and BlueJam Arts (BJamber) to discuss the issue and to reassure them about the council's position and advice.
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