Musical instrument / playground

[katrin]

Great news the playground is open!

How do people feel about the musical instrument and the noise? Its day one and it already drives me insane!

[Mark]

Hi Katrin.

Last week I was walking through the Square and a couple of kids had squeezed through the fencing to gain access to the playground. For the first time I heard the 'musical, pedals and wondered how long it would be before those overlooking it had had enough of it. Not so bad I guess (to me at least) at 3 in the afternoon, not so sure how everyone will feel when clubbers start playing with it at 2 in the morning, or 3 or 6. Time will tell I guess. Have to admit I am a little baffled that a musical amusement such as that was put between two high-rises in the first place.

[dberg369]

I'd personally like to see the noise turned off (and I'm pretty high up Sledge tower). The noise reverberates incredibly well. I can't fathom the decision for a musical playground in a residential square, seems a bit mad no?

[jrose]

I can hear the "music" loud and clear from pretty high up on Sledge Tower and it's very irritating. Should this be addressed with Consort if others feel the same? Happy to do so myself unless it's been done already.

[davetapes]

Totally with you on the 'panpipes' musical effects, living in Gaumont tower facing the square and without a winter garden it is driving me slightly insane already. I know that Ben (as resident assoc chair) has raised this with Hackney council today (as this part of the square is theirs) but don't think it would do any harm to raise with consort as well. Whoever came up with the idea for this type of playground in the middle of residential development wants their head looking at. Personally am all for finding some fencing and put this back up round the playground.

[jcft]

Completely agree with all of you--that simply has to go.  I spent an hour today trying to figure out what that noise was and then the next few hours trying to comprehend why someone thought that it was a good idea to install that in the middle of a residential development. 

Not sure who I should to speak to about this, but happy to do so. Consort? Council?

[Mark]

Just to say that this is purely a council issue: Nothing to do with Consort at all. As mentioned above, Ben Collins, Chair of the DSRA, has emailed the council already, and as soon as we receive a response I will report back.

[jvl]

It is very thoughtful of Hackney Council to think of a way to entertain the twenty and thirty-somethings coming home from the clubs, though I found that their musical skills were not that impressive at 4am. In any case, I remember very fondly reading on this very form that there are DSQ residents who came to the square because of the noise (they will enjoy this very much), but I certainly am not one of them. I think it is indeed rather baffling that the council provides musical instruments to be played around the clock. Mark: what would be the best way of filing a complaint? Working from home I am not at all that happy about the noise during the day, but I don't feel it's right to complain about that, but the council should have thought about the teenagers in the evening and the proper grown-ups in the early morning having a go.

[phild]

Yeah definitely agree this is ridiculous! We're in Thomas Tower and the musical noise is very loud, got to wonder how Hackney Council saw this as a good idea. What's wrong with monkey bars and a climbing frame?!

Seen you can raise a noise complaint through Hackney's website - is it worth doing that to get some action or just leave it as Ben's emailed? Interested to know their response...

[jrose]

Thanks for clarifying, Mark. Looking forward to hearing what the Council says and happy to support in any way.

[martn]

This has to go. Quite common sense that drunk people will jump and try to play an entire song at night. Measured like 70dB when the panpipes are playing. Ridiculous.

I like the idea of an entertaining playground, but this noisy one should be placed in the middle of a big park.

Thanks so far Mark.

[katrin]

Hello everyone,
I am glad I am not on my own. I have written to Cory Defoe ([e-mail]), who I believe deals with Dalston Square issues. In my mind it needs to be replaced with a silent solution.
The weather has been bad this weekend, what is it going to be like in the summer when the square will be busy? Even with closed all windows is really unnerving.

[rike]

So glad to read that we are not the only ones annoyed and that the council was already contacted. I agree with you all and hope this can be sorted out soon. Maybe move this playground to a nearby park and provide fun but appropriate toys for our residential area e.g. swings or monkey bars.

I even noticed that children have trouble to make sounds out of the standing flute pipes without the help of the parents. The nightly guests unfortunately not.

[Mark]

As Katrin mentioned in her second post, Cory is the man at the council, but.... The DSRA have contacted him, as has Katrin, so let's give him a chance to answer those 2 emails before we start bombarding him. That can come next if we do not like his reply. ;o)

Until now, we have found Cory to be very sensitive and understanding to the concerns of the DSRA and I am relatively confident it will be no different this time.

[Mark]

Have just got back from an impromptu meeting with Cory (council), Gerald (Consort), and residents Carmen, Katrin, Ian, and Leigh. Cory has assessed the issue for himself and agrees something needs to be done. Having already spoken to the creator/install before visiting site, he was aware that the 2 'woodwind' pieces (the floor pedals and large 'handled' device - which does work incidentally, it is just so stiff no child will ever shift it) can be irreversible drilled out to reduce volume, but the 'percussion' piece (the chime panels) can not easily be quietened. Cory has agreed to speak to the installer with regard to doing this work, and will advise me by email asap with an idea of timeline so I can advise residents via the website and here at the forum. In the meantime, Cory will also be sending out an assessor to inspect the 3 musical amusements with an eye to creating 'locks' that can be initiated to make them unusable at night (hours to be agreed). Cory will also arrange for proper measurements to be taken to look at the issue from that angle also.

With a bit of luck and a tail wind (and the passing of the novelty factor), a solution seems fairly straight forward. For now then, a little patience I guess while Cory does his thing. News coming soon....... I hope.