Councillors blame football club for noise row

Councillors have blamed the owner of Accrington Stanley football club for a long-running row about noise.

The League Two side has been banned from hosting live music at functions in its hospitality suite because of sound levels.

It closed its 1968 Lounge and Coley's bar for most events at its Wham Stadium earlier this month.

One councillor said owner Andy Holt had treated Hyndburn Council and the public with "disdain". Mr Holt has in turn criticised the council over the music ban.

The council has banned all live and recorded music at the premises, except on men's first team home league match days between the hours of midday and 19:30.

Earlier this week the council voted to "continue to work" with the club and recognised it as a "community asset", but blamed Mr Holt and the club for the row.

Councillor Clare Pritchard said: "The residents and this council have been treated with disdain by the owner of Accrington Stanley FC.

"He is not above the law."

Councillor Paul Cox said the club was "an asset to the town" but it still needed to abide by planning law.

"They did not," he said.

Councillor Scott Brerton said a meeting with a senior club official to try and sort out a deal had been "very positive".

"We all left with a collective view that we will work towards a solution for both the club and local residents," he said.

Club commercial director Warren Eastham said the club "looks forward to working towards a solution to resolve this issue for all concerned".

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