READING will be walking in a winter wonderland right up until 2028, after councillors gave a popular festive event an early Christmas present.
The Reading Winter Wonderland launched in Forbury Gardens, but moved to Hills Meadow car park last year, after a year off for covid.
Event organiser Billy Williams learnt on Thursday, September 22 that his application for a licence to operate the event for 54 days a year was successful.
Representing the applicants, Sue Dowling from Blandy & Blandy law firm said: “Last year’s event was extremely successful.
“We have got some really wonderful comments. It’s very much a family orientated event.
“It’s important to bring business to the area, and breathe life into the area, provided it is appropriately managed.”
Ms Dowling added it was important to keep people to coming as similar events are planned in Newbury and Bracknell.
There were concerns about noise disturbance coming from the site after two people sent multiple complaints.
One of the complainants, Clare Smith, manages Kingfisher Place which contains 38 apartments and is on the other side of the River Thames from the event, with other complaints coming from a man living in Cardinal Close in Caversham.
The council’s senior environmental health officer Rebecca Moon suggested that the organisers should submit a noise management plan 28 days before opening to lay out how disturbance will be managed.
“54 days for the next six years is a lot. The applicant did respond to complaints, but we did continue to receive complaints after that,” she explained.
Complaints were submitted to the council. On one occassion, there was confusion over whether noise disturbance was coming from Winter Wonderland or the Best Party Ever event in nearby King’s Meadow.
Ms Moon said she could not say for certain which event triggered the complaint, but said ‘on the balance of probability’ noise at that time came from people enjoying amusement ride at Winter Wonderland.
In 2021, staff of Winter Wonderland regularly monitored sound levels, with Ms Dowling argued the organisers had gone ‘above and beyond’ to make sure noise levels were tracked.
Officers asked for an independent acoustic professional to be hired to provide further sound monitoring, something Ms Dowling argued would be “onerous” for the free-to-enter event.
Officer Moon also said that noise produced should be no greater than 62 decibels (db), rather than the 63db that Mr Williams agreed to.
She requested that letters containing information and contact details for the event be delivered to Kingfisher Place and Cardinal Close, which Ms Dowling at one point called an “archaic” form of communication.
Mr Williams said his mobile number is publicly available on the Winter Wonderland Facebook page so that any complaints can be managed.
Ultimately, the licence was granted on the condition that a noise management plan is submitted 28 days before the event and letters are sent to Kingfisher Place and Cardinal Close.
Officer Moon’s requests for an acoustic professional and reduction to 62db were not included as conditions.
The decision was made by Labour councillors Paul Woodward (Church), Debs Edwards (Southcote) and Glenn Dennis (Kentwood).
Cllr Edwards praised the event for being a well-managed attraction.
The event will open on Saturday, November 12, and run until Monday, January 2, with opening hours from 11am, with recorded music and alcohol for sale until 10pm, with Winter Wonderland closing at 10.30pm each night.
Mr Williams said: “It’s a good result, it means that we can plan for the future.
“Cllr Edwards spoke about how we have a good reputation in the town, which is nice to hear from someone else.”
Work to install the attraction will begin on Sunday, October 16.
