Hackney residents filed 1,000% more noise complaints about music than they did for construction over the last three years.
Since January 2022, the sound of music from a club, bar or other commercial premises registered 24,544 official complaints compared with 2,400 made about construction noise.
These figures provide some context for the Night Time Industries Association’s (NTIA) announcement this year that over 3,000 of the capital’s nightlife businesses had closed since the pandemic.
Construction in Hackney, on the other hand, has been on the rise, ranking in the top half of London boroughs for annual housing completions since 2021.
Moth Club, one of Hackney’s longest-standing venues having opened in 1972, are concerned by this trend.
Proposed developments, including a residential block with balconies directly above the club’s smoking area and stage wall, have been called a serious threat to the venue’s future.
They also believe that the two developments have been filed separately so as to avoid the obligation to include social housing.
A spokesperson said: “Moth Club is more than just a venue, it’s a cornerstone of Hackney’s creative community.
“These developments wouldn’t only put one of London’s most loved grassroots venues at risk, but also impact the identity of the local area.”
Also registering over 1,000 complaints over the three year period was shouting (3,752) and animals (1,649), while plant machinery accounted for 880 grievances.
Predictably, music-related noise complaints are highest in the summer months and lowest over December and January.
Solace may be found in the fact that complaints of this nature are not rising year-on-year, with July 2022 seeing the highest of complaints on record (1,205) before 1,080 were made in August last year.
Previous guests at Moth Club include Jarvis Cocker, King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard, and Lady Gaga, while the venue is also credited with giving a platform to innumerable emerging artists over the years.
The owners are distributing a petition to oppose plans for redevelopment in the area.
The petition states: “Independent venues like Moth are under constant threat across the country, with closures happening at an alarming rate.
“If these developments are approved, potential complaints from future residents could jeopardise the venue’s future, dealing yet another blow to London’s dwindling independent venue scene.
“Please sign this petition to help protect the local community for future generations.”
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