ISLINGTON Council has given the go-ahead for two Bruce Springsteen concerts at The Emirates stadium – but under tough conditions.<br><br>Arsenal Football Club applied for licensing consent to hold up to three live music concerts a year at its home ground in Ashburton Grove.<br><br>But instead the council has given permission only for two Bruce Springsteen concerts to go ahead on 30 and 31 May.<br><br>Officers will then meet with residents and the football club to discuss the environmental impact of the concerts, particularly the effects of noise on nearby residents.<br><br>Also the council has imposed strict licensing conditions on the concerts, requiring Arsenal to hire an independent noise control consultant to monitor sound levels before and during the event.<br><br>Arsenal will have to set up a noise complaint line, manned throughout the concert, and make local residents aware of it.<br><br>There are also strict limits on sound checks, and the concerts must be finished by 10.30pm.<br><br>Officers from the council's Noise Team will monitor sound levels on the day and will ensure they are kept within limits set down in national guidelines.<br><br>In total 23 extra licensing conditions were imposed for the two concerts, in addition to Arsenal's existing premises licence conditions, by Islington Council's Licensing Committee C.<br><br>The council also granted permission for up to 12 community events to be held each year on the stadium podium, subject to permission from the council for each event, and for alcohol to be sold from the podium kiosks on other event days, in designated areas.<br><br>Chairman Cllr Stefan Kasprzyk said: "We have taken on board the concerns of residents about this new venture by Arsenal Football Club.<br><br>"We felt that as we were breaking new ground with the concerts, it would be right to just licence the two concerts, and then see what the real environmental impact is – especially of noise – on residents.<br><br>"We have put in 23 extra licensing conditions, and been as rigorous as we can, and at the same time given Arsenal the chance to prove they can run these concerts within strict limits."<br>
Page Last Updated: 17 December 2009