Residents say Arley Hall Harry Potter event shows disregard

The residents, who live in both Arley village and nearby Antrobus and Crowley, say despite their long standing support of various one-off events at the hall over many years, the news of the latest - which could last for several months - came as a great shock, as there had been no public consultation whatsoever.

Harry Potter: A Forbidden Forest Experience is set to take place in woodland on the estate, opening to the public on October 16, with the potential for it to run until the middle of January next year.

Many of the tickets have already sold out, with the experience set to take place every evening between 4.30pm and 11pm, and the last public admission being 10pm.

Arley Hall is set to host a Harry Potter experience from October.

Despite the hall saying it has limited the number of tickets sold each day, residents say there are likely to be hundreds of cars visiting the site - which can only be accessed via narrow narrow, unlit and un-gritted country lanes - and that the estate had shown 'a total disregard' for the impact on the local community.

A spokesman for the residents said: "Clearly this is an event that is way beyond the size or scope of anything that has gone before at Arley.

"Most event organisers look at the position of Arley and think it’s ideally located so close to motorway networks but then realise that the entry points to the estate are insubstantial.

"Dogfest found this to be the case and after a couple of years were forced to decide to relocate as visitors complained bitterly about the inaccessibility.

"The weekend of Geronimo Festival, one lane was absolute chaos - more than 30 cars all stuck in a single track lane trying to avoid the main congestion on Arley Road.

"Does Arley have the right to impose restrictions on neighbour’s quiet and safe enjoyment of their homes simply because it considers it has an entitlement to create new income to preserve itself?

"At which point is an event too large, too intrusive and where are the checks and balances between what is an acceptable infringement of people’s lives and what is totally unacceptable and should be questioned?

"Winter months bring darkness from 4pm, the exact time 2,000 visitors will be arriving in wet, snowy and icy conditions with not a street light for miles around.

"They have shown a complete disregard for us and as a community - we have been completely shell-shocked."

Residents say the traffic is bad enough when the hall holds one-off events or those that last for just one weekend - as demonstrated by the recent Geronimo Festival

The residents have questioned why there was no attempt at public consultation, with the only contact being when the estate sent a letter to all residents on August 10 - despite this coming after the event was announced to the general public via social media on July 20.

"Although the estate is on privately owned land, what gives them the right to impact so much on their neighbours," the spokesman added.

"The ends do not justify the means.

"For their part, the public won’t realise that the hologram of Hedwig sitting on an under-lit tree, is taking the place of all the real Hedwigs who have had to flee as their habitat was adapted for pubic convenience."

In a letter to residents, Bridget Roberts, General Manager at Arley Hall, said she would ensure local disruption would be kept to a minimum, and following two years of financial challenges, how the event was 'extremely important' for the estate as it strives to preserve it - 'for the benefit of all'.

She said: "Noise shouldn’t be an issue as the event takes place in the wood and sound is only low level/atmospheric.

"Tickets will be sold in time slots to phase guests’ arrival across opening hours, so we don’t expect to encounter the traffic issues that one might associate with some of the bigger events we do where much larger numbers of guests all arrive and depart at the same time.

"So, for local residents, this should feel much more like the traffic flows associated with garden visitors during a summer weekend, rather than a big event with queuing traffic.

"A full traffic management plan will be implemented that will include personnel in our car parks, signage on the external roads and any other measures deemed necessary, including ticket holders being sent a specific route plan in advance of their visit to mitigate issues with satnavs and any cut through routes.

"Residents should in the main be able to use the roads as normal within the traffic management plan and will be provided with a dedicated number to ring in the unlikely event there are any issues."

The hall can only be accessed via narrow and unlit country lanes

She went on to say that the organisers of the event had commissioned an ecology report of the trail which has assessed existing wildlife to ensure minimal impact within the wood itself.

"In addition, an independent tree survey has been undertaken to both manage the woodland and ensure the trail will be safe for visitors," she added.

"To be clear, no trees have been removed to form any pathway - the wide track which is clear of trees has been in existence for many years.

"I feel bad that we have not been able to update you until now, but you will no doubt appreciate the requirement for confidentiality ahead of the press release."

A Cheshire East Council spokesperson said: "Arley Hall is licensed under the 2003 Licensing Act.

"However, the events planned may not require a licence and the organisers would be free to proceed provided they comply with public safety requirements.

"The council has received documents detailing plans for the events, and these will be discussed by the events safety advisory group, which includes representatives from Cheshire police and Cheshire Fire and Rescue.

"Any issues concerning traffic congestion and access, should these arise, would be a matter for Cheshire police.

"In respect of environmental impact within woodland, we suggest enquiries should be directed to the event organisers via their website."