Bristol surgeon slams 'wretched' raves
A surgeon at the Bristol Royal Infirmary says that he might have to cancel life-saving operations if the noise from illegal raves continues to cause him to lose sleep.
Professor Roger Atkins, and many other residents of Sneyd Park whose houses look across the Avon Gorge, are plagued by the noise from parties that regularly take place during the summer months on the North Somerset side of the river across from the Portway.
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They take place in a secluded glade that is a former police shooting range, the other side of the railway line from the cycle path to Pill.
The latest illegal rave started on Saturday night and only finished at 1pm yesterday when police arrived to disperse the ravers, despite many Sneyd Park residents contacting police more than 12 hours earlier.
In the glade yesterday afternoon was evidence of the rave: empty beer, cider, water and wine bottles; discarded cigarette papers; the remains of a fire; and bizarrely, a smashed watermelon and one size-seven black stiletto shoe from New Look.
Some residents in the houses opposite the site have children who are in the middle of important GCSE or A-level exams, some of whom were unable to get a good night's sleep because of the noise, which one resident said was, at times, like having a loud radio in the room.
The thumping bass and incessant rhythms might even have been accentuated as the noise was carried across the Gorge.
Professor Atkins, a consultant orthopaedic surgeon at BRI who leads the limb reconstruction team in the United Bristol Healthcare Trust, said that he was "furious" with the police for not acting to close down the raves sooner.
He also said that it would be very easy to stop them taking place if the access point to the cycle path, near the Avon and Somerset police dog and mountain police station on Clanage Road, was made secure.
Organisers of the raves have smashed locks so that their cars, which contain the generators and speakers, can drive along the path to the glade.
Professor Atkins, 56, who lives in Avon Grove with his wife Louise and their two children, said: "This has been going on for three years and the police, the council and the environmental health teams have constantly refused to do anything about it.
"It's just appalling. They are wretched people. I am on call next week and I need to have a serious conversation with people at work in case I am unable to perform my duties as a surgeon because I am too tired."
Avon and Somerset police spokesman Wayne Baker said: "We were called on Saturday night but there was a high volume of 999 calls and we have to prioritise those calls, with threats to life taking precedence.
"When officers attended today, the rave ended shortly afterwards and those involved left the area.
"Beat managers will be meeting with residents to discuss the situation and we will also be liaising with the local authorities.
"We would urge residents to remain vigilant and report anything suspicious so that we can take action."
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by Karen, Bristol
Monday, August 31 2009, 11:22AM
“From my experience of free parties and raves, there is very rarely any trouble not like you get from drinking in some of the clubs in town! The people are friendly and just want to have a good time, raving with others. Life is very short for alot of people at the moment and they just cant afford to go out what with the credit crunch! Maybe someone should find somewhere that people can organise partys to happen on where no one gets disturbed and so that the police dont have to be involved either! They could even maybe charge a small entrance fee. I dont see why these raves have to be illegal when it wouldnt be hard to please everyone!!!!!!!!!!”
by Josh - YoungRaver., Bristol, College Green Occupier
Friday, June 05 2009, 4:38PM
“Hello, I am a open minded happy person if that's what you want to call me others call me an alternative person or a hippy bit of both really. I have been going to freeparties for a few years now i am only young but most people know me.
I would like to say that these free parties are just for people to have fun, every one of you residents like to have fun once in a while this is our night out. We congregate in a secluded place to enjoy our nights because we like the music and enjoy the atmosphere and all the other like minded and lovely people. But to be honest you people might go to classical music venues like theatres or jazz lounges where ever you go its the same but we like to do it with psytrance or other music outside in a lovely area.
Basically if you dont enjoy it turn on your own music with helps you sleep and turn it up? it works i have seen many people been able to just lie down at these parties and fall asleep ;).
I could go on and say alot of things but at the end of the day its public land.
We are members of the public wether you like it or not and we are allowed to go onto 'our' land and enjoy ourselves.
Want to contact me on the matter of the petition i am setting up for free parties. Contact me.
theenglishundertaker@hotmail.com
cheers.
Thats rave was most excellent especially climbing the side of the valley :).”
by Robert, Bristol
Thursday, June 04 2009, 3:10PM
“Well I'm with the doctor and all the other quiet-loving residents. He's entitled to get a good night's sleep even on a Saturday night and I don't think that partygoers, however beautiful, peace-loving, free and chilled, are entitled to deprive him of it. Since when does living in a city (i.e. where the work is) mean that you lose the right to quiet enjoyment of your house, particularly at night? The people who think they're entitled to disturb others, in the cause of their own fun, seem incredibly selfish.”
by GurnNTurd, Summertime
Thursday, June 04 2009, 1:19PM
“This article doesn't paint free parties in a good light, and thats such a shame.
If only the complainers knew about the environment, fun and enlightment they bring to people from soo many different backgrounds. This would be perhaps balance out the need for the parties.
Sure its a shame he can't sleep but in the big picture, why should such events not happen due to minimal disturbance- the parties in that area are not very often.
I completely agree it would of been nice for him to talk personally to us party people rather than get the newspaper and police involved.
Perhaps he's too scared because of our wretchedness...
Although i must admit the desire of us all to have a good time will not be dampened easily.
People having their complaints is likely but the word is spreading that free parties are a great night out like nothing else and People need to have a release. This article perhaps better highlights the humbug attitudes of bristols sit-down shut-up peoples more than gratifying them- polices prioritising calls. Its true when your called to a fight break out- usually down town club-free party alternative- or a noise copmlaint in a wood remote from most residents which is the real emergency and harmful? Hopefully this will inspire us All to keep excersising all our freedoms this coming summer!!
Party ON :D”
by ben, bristol
Wednesday, June 03 2009, 10:40PM
“I thought about saying a load of crap about how free parties are amazing and I cant believe what the evening post did but if you are reading this post you can see that everyone else has said the same thing over and over.
All I can say is look at the city centre and look at the free parties.
One is from a dieing breed of humanity and the other is a community
I think you can guess which is which
If a reporter tried at least to interview the people from parties likes these. they would see that we are beautiful intelligent people that have open our minds to the ideas of other people.
My final words:
Free parties and the people I have been with there have made me a better and happy person. I thank every one at all the free party crews out there. I love you all
Together we are one”