Rave in the Car Park is a regular event that takes place in a car park on Herringham Road, with the most recent events taking place on Fridays and Saturdays.
Noise levels from one of the recent events, which took place on Saturday February 18 between 8pm and 4am, sparked concern on social media with some saying they had a “disturbed night”.
However, a Greenwich Council spokesman said the noise level from the site was not considered a legal nuisance, but council officials are in contact with a number of residents to resolve the issues experienced.
The event is located in a busy industrial area near several other businesses and borders the river in front of Silvertown.
At 11:25 p.m. on February 18, one person took to Twitter to claim they could hear the parking lot rave.
@MsMusicBrady wrote: “Is the parking lot rave tonight?
“I’m sure that’s what I can hear.
“I need to make a note of when they are on so I can stay somewhere else hahaha.”
Is that parking lot rave tonight? I’m sure that’s what I can hear. I need to take note of when they are on so I can stay somewhere else lol
— Brady 💜💛💚 (@MsMusicBrady) February 18, 2023
David Thompson claimed that the noise, which he attributed to the event, had caused a disturbed night.
@Davidpeeps wrote: “Household have just woken up after another disturbed night courtesy of @Royal_Greenwich’s decision to allow a repeat of the rave at the Thames Barrier Car Park.”
Home just woke up after another disturbed night courtesy of @Royal_Greenwich decision to allow a rave replay at the Thames Barrier Car Park 😡. pic.twitter.com/Tk1ZepZpKZ
—David Thomson (@davepeeps) February 19, 2023
Another tweeter claimed that noise levels in the area were “insanely high” and that an application for a permanent license had been withdrawn after “many objections”.
@MaryonWilsonSE7 wrote: “If you’re in Charlton #se7 and can hear what sounds like an incredibly loud RAVE, that’ll be the incredibly loud 4am RAVE in a car park near the Thames Barrier.
“The same firm recently tried to get a license for 3 nights every week until 4 am.
“Application withdrawn after many objections.”
If you’re in charlton #se7 and I can hear what sounds like a crazy loud RAVE, that will be the crazy loud RAVE at 4am in a car park near the Thames barrier. The same firm recently tried to get a license for 3 nights every week until 4am. Application withdrawn after many objections. pic.twitter.com/FXPWY10ZA0
— Maryon Parks News Center (@MaryonWilsonSE7) February 18, 2023
Another Twitter user said he had called to report the noise, but was told it was not a result of the event and the source of the noise was unknown.
@whatfredisays wrote: “Called and reported and noise complaints say it’s not them and they can’t find where it’s coming from.”
They called and reported and the noise complaints say it’s not them and they can’t find where it’s coming from 😡
— Fredi 💫 (@whatfredisays) February 19, 2023
However, another tweet from the same Twitter user suggested that noise levels in the area were an ongoing problem, although he claimed that Saturday was “the worst”.
@whatfreddisays wrote; “It’s every night, but last night was the worst!
It’s every night, but last night was the worst!
— Fredi 💫 (@whatfredisays) February 19, 2023
A Greenwich City Council spokesman said the event was subject to a temporary event notice, and that these are automatically granted by legislation unless objections are received from legal agencies.
They added that in this case no objections were received and therefore the event was allowed to take place.
A Rave in the Car Park spokesperson said the application was not withdrawn due to objections, but after learning of upcoming development in the area due to start next year.
Rave in the Car Park said it was not previously aware of any complaints and had been informed by the council that noise pollution was not considered a nuisance.
A spokesperson further added that the rave was held in a crowded area with several other events in the surrounding area, which may have been the cause of the noise pollution.
The organization submitted an application for a longer-term full license, however it has since been withdrawn.
A Greenwich Council spokesperson said: “This event was subject to a Temporary Event Notice (TEN).
“These are automatically granted by legislation unless objections are received from legal agencies.
“In this case, no objections were received and therefore the event was allowed to proceed.
“Council officials were in attendance on Saturday February 18 to monitor the event due to concerns raised about noise levels.
“The noise level from the site was not considered a legal nuisance, but council officials are reaching out to the local council and various residents to resolve the issues experienced.
“An application for a longer-term full license submitted by the organizers of the music event in the parking lot has since been withdrawn.
“Royal Greenwich and the Metropolitan Police take complaints from residents seriously and will deal with unlicensed or non-compliant music events in the strongest possible way.
“We encourage residents to report any issues to us so they can be investigated when appropriate.
“You can do this at www.royalgreenwich.gov.uk/noisecomplaints.”
A Rave In The Car Park spokesperson said: “Any event we do is fully licensed and inspected by the council and police with whom we work and communicate closely.
“This is the first time we’ve heard this and unfortunately it couldn’t be us as our main sound system is inside.
“There are two other outdoor venues on the same industrial estate that are open seven days a week and generate a lot of traffic and noise.
“Three huge open air nightclubs across the river in the Newham Docks area when the weather and air pressure changes their sound is carried from the other side, there are also lots of boat parties going up and down the river river”.