FOOTBALL referees will be banned from blowing their whistles as part of an agreement to end a bitter planning row.
Council chiefs approved the new floodlit artificial pitch in Hove, East Sussex – despite almost 1,400 objections from residents and supporters of a neighbouring open-air theatre.
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But as part of the agreement players, coaches and referees will be ordered to keep the noise down whenever the curtain goes up just 50 metres away, and football games and theatre shows occur at the same time.
This includes a “prohibition of whistles” during performances – along with other noise restrictions.
Brighton and Hove City Council gave Brighton, Hove and Sussex Sixth Form College (BHASVIC) the go-ahead for the pitch and a multi-use games area on playing fields in Hove.
The scheme includes a 61m by 40m artificial football pitch surrounded by 4.5m fencing and six floodlights on 10m-high columns.
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Students would be able to use the new facilities, with availability for community hire.
But the school’s plans sparked a battle with the neighbouring Brighton Open Air Theatre (BOAT) over fears that shouting, balls thumping against fences and referee whistles would impact performances.
Just 78 representations backed the plans compared with 1,362 objections and eight neutral comments.
Another 12 objections arrived after the council prepared its main report ahead of a recent planning committee meeting.
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BOAT general manager Will Mytum explained: “We have over 11 years of experience running an outdoor theatre so we know intimately how noise travels in the park and what an inherent danger to our future these pitches would be.
“We would not be objecting so strongly if this wasn’t the case and the overwhelming number of objections from the public indicates the strength of feeling among the community.
“We think it will be incredibly disruptive to our operation and really put our theatre in jeopardy. “
Before the college can use the pitch, it must agree the noise management plan with council officials – which includes the ban on whistles while the theatre is staging productions.
The restrictions will apply to the college as well as community groups and third-party hirers.
Staff, coaches, referees and players must be told about the rules, while records of bookings, complaints and investigations will have to be kept.
The restrictions follow warnings that football noise could be clearly heard from the outdoor theatre.
Noise tests undertaken by BHASVIC, along with noise reports commissioned from BOAT and Brighton and Hove Council’s Environmental Health team, “agree that the average noise levels from the proposals are unlikely to be of significant concern and would comply with the 50 decibels (dB) limit (averaged over a one-hour period) set by published Sport England guidance”.
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However, council planning officers said average noise readings failed to tell the whole story because football produces “sudden and impulsive” sounds.
Their report said these included “ball impacts, whistles and shouts at an unpredictable frequency and timing”.
Officers concluded the noises would be “readily audible” during performances at BOAT and could potentially cause “significant disruption”.
BOAT has staged productions in Dyke Road Park in Hove since 2015 and had 125 performances scheduled during its May to September season this year.
Council officers calculated that just seven of those 125 performances would clash with pitch use.
The row was serious enough that two Brighton and Hove City Council departments initially raised concerns.
Its Arts and Culture team warned about the potential impact on the theatre, while Environmental Health was concerned about intermittent noise disrupting shows.
The council’s Environmental Health department later withdrew its holding objection after the operating hours were reduced and further safeguards were proposed.
The Theatres Trust, the national advisory body for theatres, also formally objected.
It warned: “It is inevitable there will be disruption of shows by noise coming from the new sports facilities.”
And it said the consequences could be serious, adding: “If shows are disrupted, the theatre will lose audiences and promoters will be unwilling to bring their shows to the venue.”
Other locals also complained about the plans.
One said in planning documents: “It is so, so loud – and it happens incessantly during training. I can’t see how anyone could perform or any audience enjoy a show, with that sound, so close by.
“The threat feels existential to BOAT. It’s a wonderful venue for music, comedy, theatre and kids’ shows – run by volunteers, with ticket prices kept as low as possible.”
Another said: “The noise would completely destroy the quiet surroundings of the park, which is essential to enable performances to be heard and appreciated in the way that any audience and performer has a right to expect.”
BHASVIC have argued that its existing sporting facilities fall “well below” the standards of most education providers.
They said the scheme would provide students with high-quality training and study facilities and benefit the wider community.
A spokesperson added: “We have revised our planned community use opening hours to ensure there are minimal clashes with Boat performances.”
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BHASVIC principal William Baldwin added: “We always knew that our proposal would not be universally supported. As part of our submission, we actively engaged with local residents, stakeholders and user groups.
“Planning is a democratic process and we respect the right of all voices to be heard.”