Neighbours complain about ‘extreme noise’ coming from Reading Festival this year, particularly on the last day.
The festival attracts thousands of revellers each year during the festival weekend at the end of August.
This year saw headline performances from Chappell Roan, Hozier, Bring Me The Horizon, and Travis Scott.
However, complaints about noise disturbing neighbours during the event led to several reports to Reading Borough Council.
The issue was recently raised at a full meeting of the council on October 14.
Councillor Raj Singh (Conservative, Kentwood) said: “Residents, particularly in my ward, Kentwood, reported extreme noise and vibration during the final night of this year’s Reading Festival – far worse than in previous years.
“The council’s response appears limited to ‘feeding back’ to organisers, which residents feel is inadequate.”
He then asked what steps would be taken to prevent such excessive noise in future festivals, and review whether the current monitoring and noise thresholds are fit for purpose.
These questions were answered by Karen Rowland, lead councillor for environmental services and community safety.
She explained noise levels are restricted by the event licence, but can still impact residents due to weather conditions carrying the music.
Cllr Rowland (Labour, Abbey) said: “This year, for the vast majority of the festival’s performance hours, noise levels were within the limits agreed and set for the festival.
She then explained that the majority of the noise complaints were made about Travis Scott’s headline set on the last day.
Cllr Rowland said: Officers noted an increased number of complaints on the Sunday night during the Travis Scott set, when compared to the total number of complaints received over the weekend (23 complaints received regarding the Sunday out of the 34 received overall).
Cllr Rowland then provided data showing there were fewer total noise complaints submitted this year compared to 2024, when 100 reports were made.
The figures provided stretched back to 2019 – and did not include 2020, when the festival was cancelled due to social distancing rules during the coronavirus pandemic.
Last year, the ‘Chevron Stage’ replaced the second main stage created for 2021-2023.
She said: “It can be noted that the festival this year fielded fewer noise complaints than in the previous two years, due to ongoing works by Festival Republic [the organisers] to proactively address noise control measures by placing stages strategically and utilising other sound reduction methods to significantly subdue noise levels for the vast majority of Reading’s residents.”
She then encouraged neighbours to report noise to the council, which is in contact with Festival Republic throughout the event.
