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GITG 09 - Ben Lawrance (10th Aug 2009 - 15:45:43) Hi All, Just a quick note to say thanks to all who turned out for GITG '09. We raised over £580 for Hospice Services at Home TLC. It didn't rain this year! We had the biggest crowd ever in 5 years. All the info is on the website www.gitg.org, and if you are on Facebook, The Gig In The Garden Group has some audience photos for you to tag yourself in. See you all next year Cheers Ben

Re: GITG 09 - Ben Lawrance (14th Aug 2009 - 15:27:13) It is with great sadness that i have to announce that Gig In The Garden will no longer be taking place. We received a letter from EHDC this morning, informing us that they had received a large number of complaints from Liphook residents, about the level of "noise" from our event. In short, the council have informed us, that due to the amount of complaints they have received this year, adding to that the complaints they have received in previous years, that shall we decide to hold the event next year, we do so under EHDC strict terms, and adhere to requirements of noise. This basically means that we can't generate any volume than is normally deemed suitable for a Saturday night. If i'm honest, i'm sick to the back teeth of trying to provide a source of entertainment, and a way to bring the community together TO RAISE MONEY FOR CHARITY!, if people are just going to moan. I feel that there is no point in holding a reduced, smaller version of GITG as this is no what we are about. My work ethic is to do a job to the best of my ability, and i feel i would be cheating people if i did it any other way. What annoys me the most, is that when i had a conversation with Nick from TLC about how much money we raised. He was over the moon. He was explaining how much help the £580 would give. I'm sure that next year, we would have raised even more, so without GITG the Charity has been robbed. Robbed by the people of Liphook, and i'm not sure i want to be part of a Community that behaves in such way. I must express my many thanks to all those people who did come out to see what we do, and those who did put their hand in their pocket and donate to the Charity. For that i am truly thankful, and your support is very much appreciated. I apologise if the enjoyment of so many people, causes great harm and distress to a few. Please feel free to leave your comments either here, on on our message board on www.gitg.org. Kind Regards Ben Lawrance Principal Organiser - GITG

Re: GITG 09 - Elizabeth Dhillon (14th Aug 2009 - 16:48:49) GIGT is once a year, on a Saturday night and in school holidays. I can't understand why people need to complain. I think it's a great pity and the Council should reconsider its decision. For the record I live very close to the centre of the village (and I'm not deaf!). Although I was away last weekend I but presume the event was similar to previous years.

Re: GITG 09 - Editor (14th Aug 2009 - 17:03:38) How many letters of congratulations would we need to post to EHDC to counteract the number of complaints ? Ben - can you post the name and address of the person who has written to you, so we can get as many people as possible to write letters of support back to them, including, of course, Nick from TLC (the charity which benefited this year). I live to the east of the centre of Liphook and would say it was actually quieter over here than last year - prevailing winds, I guess. Alan

Re: GITG 09 - Paul Robinson (14th Aug 2009 - 17:29:35) I would agree with earlier comments re this event. We Iive in the Headley Road and as it was a warm night we were in the garden most of the evening and heard nothing. I wonder how many people who complained to EHDC will be bold enough to post their complaints here and give their reasons for complaining? Paul Robinson

Re: GITG 09 - Karen F (14th Aug 2009 - 18:37:11) Hi Ben As you know, we are on the Portsmouth Road, and yes we could hear some noise but in no way did it disturb us. I quite like hearing the 'hum' of lots of people enjoying themselves at a community event! Good luck with the campaign to overturn the decision. Karen

Re: GITG 09 - Eneida (14th Aug 2009 - 18:47:10) We live in the Headley Road too and heard a bit of music in the background...just thought that must be Ben's Gig in the Garden do...good on him and all for charity too!! Who are these stupid people who complain about music on a warm Saturday evening once a year :( Eneida

Re: GITG 09 - Helen (14th Aug 2009 - 22:35:17) There are some small minded sad people who need to get a life. What next no carnival with its fireworks/music and lots of loud noise. I bet these are the same people who moan about the yobs causing trouble.

Re: GITG 09 - Vics (14th Aug 2009 - 23:11:33) We haven't been able to attend GITG but on our return from holiday last weekend we drove past the square. It was buzzing and alive, something that was great to see! Will complaints like this eventually lead to the downfall of the Carnival or the LIBDA bike ride, afterall they potentally cause much more 'disruption'? Lets wait for the axe to fall! I hope common sense will prevail....but sadly I won't hold my breath.

Re: GITG 09 - DIANE (15th Aug 2009 - 00:58:26) Such a shame that a minority of people have spoiled a great event for the whole community. People have no conception of what putting on an event such as GIG takes and I take my hat of to all the team, especially Ben without who it wouldn't happen. To hold an event such as this which brings the whole community together is such an acheivement. The Anchor is in the centre of the village and wants to be part of the village spirit, to give something back to the community and all it's customers. How can people complain about an event which take place once a year, in the school holidays, on a saturday night and finishes at 11pm, the same time as a normal saturday night? All this aside, to raise over £500 for charity in the current climate is fantastic. Why put a stop to acheiving more? I worked in the bar of the Anchor for GITG and the noise level seemed little more than an ordinary saturday night. The fact that at 11pm ALL music was stopped and was controlled to cause minimum disruption is an achievment in itself. Also, how can people complain about an event that was so well advertised? To me, it's just silly.

Re: GITG 09 - Editor (15th Aug 2009 - 10:17:02) There is of course a VERY simple solution to this... The PARISH COUNCIL. Now as a community we pay the Parish Council. If the community wishes to keep GITG as a community event, in exactly the same way that the Carnival is a community event, then it becomes the job of the Parish Council to contact EHDC and explain to them exactly why the event WILL continue regardless of the few complaints. So, Barbara, can you please get GITG onto the agenda for the next Council meeting so that it can be properly adopted as a Local Community Event and hence safeguarded from the the petty minded people who want it stopped. Of course, if the Parish Council can't do this, then clearly this will also be the last year of the Carnival, the Carnival Fun Day and of course the council will have to ban the fair, as they all make too much noise ! Alan

Re: GITG 09 - Hannah (15th Aug 2009 - 10:24:59) I too like Di worked behind the bar at GITG and have done for the last five years. I have seen the Gig grow and grow over the last five years and being the girlfriend to Ben have seen the amount of work and pressure he and his team put into this event. Ben spends the best part of the year organising this event and to have a few small minded people complain about the noise is unbelieveable. Raising over £500 for charity is a great achievement and i just hope that in the future these people who have made the complaints don't need the help of this brilliant charity. Receiving this letter has made Ben extremely angry that some people of the village are unsupporting to him and the charity, and having to end GITG has really upset him and all the team involved every year. I hope these moaners are satisfied with themselves!!!

Re: GITG 09 - Dawn Hoskins (15th Aug 2009 - 11:24:40) I agree with the general comments made about the saddo’s who are putting this community fund raising event in jeopardy. The fact that Liphook has community events such as: Christmas Carols at The Anchor Firework displays Carnival Fundays The Bloomers Etc etc is what makes this such a pleasant and welcoming place to live and I’m sure these events also draw visitors (and their spending money) to the area. I know that the organisers put a tremendous amount of effort and energy into organising these events and it must be very disheartening to have ‘busybodies’ trying to throw a spanner in the works at every opportunity. Letters to EHDC are usually public documents which can be viewed by us, this may/may not be the case but could be worth investigating. This will enable us to ascertain how many people complained and how far away from the event they were (and who they are!) I don’t think that having EHDC noise restrictions will prevent the event from taking place. It usually means no noise after a certain time (which you do anyway). Lets face it, Grayshott ran the same thing for years with the support of the council and loads of pubs and clubs have live music events outside in the summer months with out incurring the wrath of the district councillors! Ben. Before you throw the towel in on this event, which we are all getting to know and love – talk to the Parish Council and talk to the District Council. Find out what they will / will not do to support GITG. Lets establish what any imposed restriction may mean in reality before bring a premature end to this fabulous event. Again. It would be SO nice if the parish council would let us know via this site what they intend to do.

Re: GITG 09 - barbara (15th Aug 2009 - 11:40:14) I will put this on the agenda for next full meeting, which is on at the end of September. I presume that it was the environmental health dep at EHDC which has made the edict? I will have to investigate further. There may be some alterntive way to be found so that the event is not cancelled completely?

Re: GITG 09 - jo herridge (15th Aug 2009 - 14:33:37) It appears that there are more supporters than moaners. I remember posting a comment regarding the complaints last year. Without people like Ben and his team that work very hard to organise it and make it the success that it clearly is where would Liphook be as a community? I have lived here 2 and a half yrs and I was amazed how much this village does for its community. We have so much going on through the year with fun days, the carnival and the fair on the village green. Liphook is so lucky that have people who care enough to give up their time and put in a lot of work and effort for the sake of helping others. Those that have complained or their loved ones I hope don't need to use the services of these charities in the future. Don't give up Ben!

Re: GITG 09 - Finchie (16th Aug 2009 - 08:12:34) Actually I can see their point. If I lived near the Anchor and heard all that music, way past my usual bedtime, and I was a pretty sad, selfish, self-centered, ignorant oaf, I would totally agree. It would really get up my nose that for one night a year, a whole bunch of people of all ages were having fun. In fact it would fill my life with delight in that it gives me something else to moan about, and another reason to go to complain about something else totally trivial. In fact, I would wast valuable minutes of my life writing to the sad officers whose job it is to actually give me the time of day and cow-tow to the minority. It would make me just as angry as when they close the square for that flaming procession, and that flaming bike race. Two other major irritations that I keep writing about. I would probably be called Mr Alf Garnet (anyone under 35/40 won't have a clue what I mean but I suspect no one under 35/40 has complained). But luckily I am not like that. So to the Mr and Mrs Garnets of this world ... Forget about the finish time, whether it was 11, 12, 1, 2 etc... JUST GET SOME EARPLUGS, take a big breath in and LIVE WITH IT ! Or even better - you know the date - go and visit friends, family, go camping, get as far from Liphook as humanly possible - then you won't hear it. I thought this was a democracy. EHDC can't just go banning things left, right and center without proper consultation to the public, on the back of letters from Mr & Mrs Garnet. . If the public demands to have fun (and RAISE MONEY) - then so be it. Ben - this is a point of principle. I am happy to put as many hours into this as needed. First port of call - seeing where Mr & Mrs Garnet live - and arranging with their neighbours all GITG practice sessions at series of "private parties" over the year. Very petty and tit-for-tat, I know - this might be a bloody war - but I could do with a bit of excitement !! Cheers, Finchie

Re: GITG 09 - Paul W (16th Aug 2009 - 12:40:35) Ahhhh, the professional moaner's strike again. Honestly, the event was clearly advertised on a Saturday night, and is once a year. I have never attended the gig (getting too old) and could clearly hear the noise from my home, but so what. Its events like this that make us a community instead of just a town. One thing I didn't know was that this is a charity event, and I wonder if some of the complainants would have a different view if they knew. Another example of the politically correct brigade spoiling things for a lot of other people. As stated here, i'm sure support for this event would dwarf the level of complaints. Don't give up, and good luck. I may just come next year now!

Re: GITG 09 - Peter (16th Aug 2009 - 18:37:19) A different point of view. A lot of emotion here which clouds the fact (at least on reading this thread) that EHDC have not banned this event, they have merely said the volume needs to be turned down. It is the organiser who has decided that music is not worth performing unless it is high decibel. And it seems EHDC made the same request last year, and appear to have been ignored. I live close by and thought it was probably too loud. Having said that I wasn't bothered enough to complain. But I do not think it unreasonable to show some consideration. The fact is that many of us aren't interested in gigs, and we do like to enjoy some peace and quiet. I see nothing wrong with that, and if it makes me a 'saddo', so be it. And the charity angle, whilst admirable, is not a licence to override the reasonable concerns of others. Isn't the reasonable thing to play the music so those who want to hear it can do so, and those who don't, don't have to?

Re: GITG 09 - John Lush (16th Aug 2009 - 19:54:45) Completey outrageous - can one of these 'complainers' actually come on here and justify their complaint?

Re: GITG 09 - Sue W (17th Aug 2009 - 10:19:57) Ben It is sad that complaints seem to have a greater standing than complements. I can understand your comments, but don’t think you should throw in the towel. If you enjoy doing it, people enjoy attending and a charity can benefit from it - KEEP DOING IT. There will always be people complaining about things - just reading this website will confirm this - but it should not stop you from carrying out your gigs (even if it means slightly adjusting the volume). If people always listened to criticisms and packed up their inventions, ideas etc, just think what we would be missing out on!!. Sue

Re: GITG 09 - barbara (17th Aug 2009 - 11:58:04) Surely if possible a solution can be reached? I think the finishing time is early enough it just appears to be a question of noise levels, and there is a legal limit, regardless of whether it is for charity or not. Why not explore the possibility of an alternate indoor venue? Noise would not catrry so far then?

Re: GITG 09 - Chris Adamson (17th Aug 2009 - 13:17:24) It wouldn't be Gig in the GARDEN if it was held in a hall. It would be Gig in a room. Not the same at all. Ben don't let a few narrow minded people put you off! You have more supporters than you think. Certainly far more supporters than opposers! Don't get disheartened. There are a lot of community spirited people in Liphook who value all your efforts for our community. Let's see what the result of the Parish Coucil brings. I'd like to know just how many complaints there ACTUALLY were and how many of them were the SAME moaners from previous years.

Re: GITG 09 - Joy & David Lush (23rd Aug 2009 - 20:48:02) What!! - more complaints about an event that only takes place once a year,- unbelievable!! May we suggest that the 'moaners' take their holiday when the GIG is on-it is always advertised well in advance. The next thing is that the same people will complain about the Liphook Carnival-after all that is also held once a year and causes some inconvenience to the residents. Incidentally we are both pensioners, but we still love to see people of all ages enjoying themselves. Joy & David Lush.

Re: GITG 09 - Jan Jones (24th Aug 2009 - 14:11:26) Hi Ben, I'm a former resident of Liphook, but my family still live locally, and they have told me that the GITG09, is a great evening out, and the noise is not a problam at all, so, please Ben don't give in to the moaners, (who have forgotten what it is like to be young) keep up the good work.

Re: GITG 09 - Alex Cameron (24th Aug 2009 - 22:51:26) It's moments like these when being from Liphook or any other small middle class town that can be so painfully embarassing. What an absolutely ridiculous and utterly pathetic little bunch of complaining cretins we have to put up with. EHDC are even worse. It's *one single evening* in the whole year. I'll tell you what is "reasonable" for 1 night - that the poisonous and miserly Daily Mail brigade turn off ITV1 and get out of the house for the night somewhere else if they don't like a little music and celebration nearby. Just get in the car or on the train and have a nice dinner at a friend's, or in a town down the road. Take a tranquiliser, wear some earplugs, or just down a bottle of brandy and blank it all out if the 1db increase is too much. GITG is turning into a really cool mini-festival and one of the best things to happen to Liphook for years - good enough for me to invite friends from the capital to come to for a night out, and also attracting people to the village. It's a fabulous community event celebrating and supporting local music and raising money for people who need it the most. Ben's worked damned hard on it, reliably put it on every year and deserves a massive pat on the back. I want to know who these people are, as i'm really getting sick of this as its so predictable. Surely there's a way to have their names put up publicly, in the same way those who object to planning and/or trademark applications have to be? A "large" number of complaints my a*** - i'll bet it's 4 or 5 whingeing old pensioners who also waste our MP's time with letters about neighbouring hedge heights. Put your money where your phone call is you sad little people. It's our festival and you're not torpedoing it because the last time you actually smiled was 15 years ago watching Cilla Black.

Re: GITG 09 - claire (25th Aug 2009 - 10:34:16) I have to agree with the majority here. The GITG is a superb event enjoyed by all ages (yes even some pensioners !!)There will always be social aspects of a community which are not to your taste and do cause disruption of some kind to your own life. I personally don't enjoy the carnival but would never wish to stop others participating & enjoying it. I just try to ensure I am somewhere else the nights the clocks go back and would suggest people bothered by the 'one night a year' noise from GITG do the same on that night.

Re: GITG 09 - Elizabeth Dhillon (25th Aug 2009 - 10:42:04) It would be interesting to know just who did complain if only to find out if Alex's ageist diatribe is justified. - Particularly as GITG has already had support from pensioners in this thread.

Re: GITG 09 - Eneida (25th Aug 2009 - 11:24:14) Well as a 'miserly and poisonous' Daily Mail reader (lol), I can confirm that I certainly have NOT written to EHDC to complain about GITG...I'm totally in favour of it and hope that Ben will be able to carry on next year as usual!! Perhaps the moaners all read The Guardian..... ;) Eneida

Re: GITG 09 - Chris (25th Aug 2009 - 11:53:14) The GITG is a worthy event and receives majority support and it's a shame that EHDC have been so narrow minded in their response to a few complaints. It's also a shame that some people have chosen to wade in with what is obviously guessing about the circumstances of the complaints. Only a buffoon would think that it had anything to do with the newspapers people read!

Re: GITG 09 - robbie (25th Aug 2009 - 12:02:13) i wonder how many complaints they have actually got? surely if the number of people who actully want the gitg to go on out numbers the number of people who complain then it should go on. if there were 10 complaints and 1000 people who thought it was a good thing then u would like to think that the small narrow mindednessof some people would be overruled but alas in this day and age when doing some thing for charity and bringing a community together seems to be a bad thing i fear that a small minority of people may actually win out which is a shame. do these people complain about the carnival? do they complain about the cycle ride? both of which close the roads!! do these people who complain give silly silly amounts of money to charity and therfore feel that no more should be given? this is a community event and in todays social state where new people are moving in and out of the village all the time its nice to have something that brings people together as a community, some thing which has been lost in many parts of the country and that is a shame. how long have the people who complained lived in the village for?? i have lived here 26 yrs and my family all therr lives and i no not one of them who would dare complain about a charity event, to some people the thought of taking money away from a hospice makes them feel sick when it is the small and narrow minded who cant just let one night a yr pass them by with out complaing! who ever you people are you should be throughly ashamed at yourselves and hope that you one day dont ever need the help that a charity may provide because they may turn roound and say sorry but we dont have the money. i think the councill should hold a meeting and all those who wish to complain should b there and so should all those in favor.

Re: GITG 09 - Peter (31st Aug 2009 - 11:26:41) There is a nasty whiff of the lynch mob in some of these postings. People are perfectly entitled to voice their protest at a noisy event if they wish. Whether that should lead to a ban is debatable. Personally I think not. But as I pointed out earlier, and some seem not to have grasped, there has been no ban. Simply a request to turn the volume down. 'Live and let live' cuts both ways. Too many posters here are not considering the other point of view. Bear in mind for instance that those complaining may have had no idea what the source of the music was, or that it was a 'charity' event. Given the aggressive and self-righteous tone of some of the postings here I can understand why a complainant would wish to remain anonymous.

Re: GITG 09 - barbara (31st Aug 2009 - 15:06:21) I am willing to raise this matter at the Parish Council meeting but unfortunately have had no information from Ben re what the letter from EHDC actually says or who wrote the letter. Until I do, I cannot even try to help negoitiate.

Re: GITG 09 - Jaybee (31st Aug 2009 - 19:50:42) Ben Please publish the letter to enable the Parish Council to debate. At the moment I am neutral but I would like to hear the views of the objectors before I make up my mind. Perhaps they might like to comment here or attend the Parish Council meeting to voice their complaints.

Re: GITG 09 - barbara (1st Sep 2009 - 12:15:33) I have now heard from Ben and hopefully we can start discussions with EHDC. On a seperate note the diatribe from ALex Cameron, against pensioners was uncalled for- especially as he came onto this site recently with a wonderful investment opportunity for us all in Liphook for his proposed film to be made--- Michael's Resignation. Perhaps he should have put a clause into his investment proposal, no right wing pensioners to hand over their money for my film my principles won't allow me to take your money! I do not even think he lives in Liphook now but in London.

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