Edgar Street neighbour objects to 'distressing' matchday fanzones

The Edgar Street fanzones have been labelled 'distressing'

A person living next to Hereford's Edgar Street stadium has objected to the matchday fanzones which have become a popular addition to games. 

Held outside Radford's, the zones have music, food and drink - and the club want to change its premises licence to encompass them.

But no external areas would be used after 11pm, and neither would any rubbish be put outside after then.

But one objection has been submitted, by someone who lives "in close proximity" to the club.

The person is concerned that the noise from the fanzone would "negatively impact on the quality of sleep of themselves and their neighbours"

"Additionally, I have lived with severe and enduring ill mental health throughout my life," the objection said, but the person's name was redacted by officials.

"The increased levels of noise that these fans will bring will increase distress and agitation that I already live with," they said. 

"Furthermore, after living next to the football ground for some years I am aware that some fans can consume too much alcohol and throw drinks and glasses.

"I am worried that these issues would result in further deterioration to my mental health."

At the moment, the club have to apply for temporary event notices to hold the fanzones so changing the licence would mean they no longer have to do so.

It all comes after a meeting with Herefordshire Council and the police, the documents submitted by the club show.

The changes to the licence, if approved by councillors today (Thursday), would see plans tweaked to include the outside area and layout change, re-word conditions to bring them up to date, remove plays from the licence and change the licensable timings.

The application shows alcohol can be sold from 11am until 1am, except on Fridays and Saturdays when it is until 2am, and that will remain the same if the licence is amended.

To meet the licensing objectives, the club said it would keep good-quality CCTV for 31 days, and would use toughened/Polycarbonate/plastic containers during games.

No open containers will be taken off site, nor any glass, and doorstaff would be used on a risk-assessed basis.

Among a raft of other measures outlines, staff will also be trained, an incident log must be kept at the premises and punters encouraged to be considerate to neighbours.