People living in a Stockport village claim they are being kept up at night by noise by 'horrendous' festivals in the area. One resident also claimed litter and drugs were an issue at a recent council meeting.

At an area committee for the Marple area, John Bright said he had received complaints about festivals in the area around Compstall and Marple Bridge based at the nearby White Bottom Farm. He pressed the council on what they were doing to monitor events in the area.

He said: "The noise was so bad on July 17 and 19 that it kept some residents awake until 2am. The festivals at the farm appear to be getting more numerous and bigger every year.

"There is also great concern regarding camping for the festival that encroaches on Stockport's only site of special scientific interest."

Referencing the promotion of the upcoming Firevolt festival, he said there were pictures 'showing places to camp on the SSSI and stating there is going to be one hell of an explosion'. He added: "I sincerely hope not."

It appears this reference to an explosion is related to music. Promotional material for the event said: "Firevolt – 'Three Days, Two stages, One Hell of an Explosion of Face Melting Rock'."

Responding to the question Marple North councillor Michaela Meikle said the SSSI was important, she appreciated the work of volunteers, and she had raised the issue with senior councillors and officers, adding: "We all, the councillors here and the council do take it really seriously."

She said they were 'not going to allow that situation to deteriorate' and they were taking up community concerns, but added: "It is very difficult for me to talk about those issues because currently the council is in discussions with the farm and the owner of the site."

Steve Gribbon, also a councillor for the area, said he had spoken to the farm about the issues including noise claiming there were 'things that were wrong that I witnessed'. The councillor said he saw 'taxis going down Montague Street where they shouldn't be going down'.

He said he had been to see the farm owners, adding: "We spoke about what was needed. They acknowledged the failings but they're going to address that locally."

Wendy Robinson, another public questioner, said: "We just need help. The villagers aren't listened to. It's 12 years that we've put up with festivals."

She added: "12 years we've had festivals and nothing changes. The last festival, which was the Irish one, was horrendous. We had noise through from Thursday through to Monday morning.

"Compstall village was turned into a one-way system that all the residents have to comply to from Thursday until Monday afternoon and it's just a car park.

"The drugs, the litter, the noise was horrendous. The festivals are very well ran once you're in them and I do go to the festivals but I hate what the festivals do to the village."

She told the committee on the Saturday night in her bedroom she 'could literally hear the full music, the DJ, and the people singing back' but argued 'you shouldn't be able to hear it'.

Ms Robinson added: "Nobody is helping us. Nobody is helping the village", later telling the committee: "We just don't know where to go."

She said: "The residents have had enough and we don't get help."

In response to her concerns, Cllr Meikle said: "We do hear you. All of your feedback has gone through", urging the public to raise any issues with them and she would pass the information on. She said the council had taken action and discussions were ongoing but accepted the problem had not been solved just yet.

The councillors also said they were unable to attend a committee meeting this week due to the short notice but said they would attend a further meeting in the future. The owners of Whitebottom Farm were approached for comment.

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