ORGANISERS of The Enchanted Garden Ball (EGB), an end of year celebration for Exeter University students, which has been held at Shobrooke Park, near Crediton, for the past few years, hope this year's event can open later and plan some local road measures to ease the traffic flow to and from the event.

In 2013 noise issues resulted in dozens of complaints from people who live in the area and two pages of the "Courier" were solely devoted to letters of complaint.

By bringing in noise control specialists, the organisers were able to greatly reduce the noise issues at last year's event.

This year the event is due to take place at Shobrooke Park, from 6pm on Saturday, June 6.

To date, 2,290 people have indicated they are to attend on EGB's "Facebook" page.

Nick Jackson, from EGB, told the Courier: "The event features a variety of festival inspired content from zorbing to Silent discos and secret bars.

"This year we have some exciting plans to change the site and add creative content including a tree house stage and vintage circus inspired Big Top tent.

"The Enchanted Group aim to produce memorable and remarkable events for our customers, however, we understand the need to work with both local authorities and the community to produce a sustainable event for everyone. It is for this reason that we invite feedback not only from students but also local residents on all aspects of the event.

"After receiving a number of noise complaints in 2013, the first year the Enchanted Garden Ball was held at Shobrooke Park, we have worked closely with police, licensing officers and the local council to produce a stringent noise management plan. This resulted in zero noise complaints in 2014 and we hope to achieve the same outcome for 2015.

"As with last year's event we are working with Anderson Mitchell, local independent noise management and monitoring specialists, and have developed the following practices, amongst others, to eliminate noise disturbance from the event site:

"'Ramping down' of venues:

The majority of amplified music on-site will stop at 11pm. The remaining few venues that will continue to play music will be stringently monitored to ensure that Music Noise Level will not exceed 45dB LAeq (lower limit of urban ambient sound) at the stated monitoring positions. All amplified music will stop at 1am and customers will be promptly transported from the venue, on coaches, back to Exeter. In addition the Music Noise Level before 11pm will not exceed 65dB LAeq at the same monitoring positions.

"Reduction of Low Frequency sound energy:

All venues will incorporate intelligent sound systems that are designed to ensure sound does not emanate outside of the venue structure. We will be using Cardiod sub bass units in all venues that will be playing music after 11pm to reduce low frequency sound energy emitted from the site.

"Monitoring off site levels:During the duration of the event Anderson Mitchell specialists will monitor the environmental levels off-site and venue levels on-site. Information on off-site levels and sound characteristics will be relayed to the site. In this way changes or modifications that need to be made to venue levels to maintain compliance with licence conditions and avoid unreasonable disturbance in the area can be made. Any necessary changes to on-site levels can be swiftly made to ensure the primary objective is achieved.

"Closed venues:

All tented venues will operate with tent side walls in place post 11pm which will further reduce the LAeq at the monitoring sites.

"Site contact:Contact details will be made available for anyone wishing to contact the site management office during the event. In the case of noise complaint from the local area we will mobilise the noise management team to identify the level and modification to levels needed and relay all information to the site sound engineers. From becoming aware of potential issues there will be a target response time of 20 minutes to identify and modify source levels.

"Music Styles:

The music styles have been altered to avoid low frequency sound energy being emitted from the site. Lighter music with less bass and continual beats have been selected for all venues after 11pm.

"One further issue being addressed in 2015 is the traffic management strategy. Again we've contracted in a team of specialists, who also facilitate the traffic management plan for Glastonbury festival, to advise and deliver a safe and efficient traffic management strategy.

"Some of the additions to this year's plan include:

• Changing coach supply to local Exeter-based company, ensuring our coach requirement is fulfilled.

• Introducing a traffic-friendly site entrance at the South Lodge, with hard track waiting area within the event site. This will allow us to contain customers in a safe and stable environment.

• Introducing a new stewarding system to inform local traffic, taxi's and coaches of the correct traffic procedure. These stewards will also be positioned to control the flow of customer leaving the event site ensuring that a convergence of people is avoided at the coach pickup point.

• Rerouting buses through the new bypass, allowing us to avoid the residential parts of Crediton as well as reducing travel time to and from Exeter.

"As ever we will be working closely with the local authorities in the lead up to the event to ensure our application and management plans fully adhere to local licensing laws.

"Our intention is to develop a sustainable event a Shobrooke Park for both our customers and the local community. We have invested a significant amount of money and resources to local businesses and the development of the publicly accessible parts of the Park. All of our suppliers are from the local area and last year's event raised enough money to develop the hard-standing access to the Park for disabled users as well as increased parking next to the park.

"We appreciate the continued support from the Crediton community as it is our aim to produce a safe, fun event that has minimal impact on the town, residents and the site.

"The Enchanted Group are contactable by email at: [email protected]">[email protected] ."

• What do you think of the plans for the Ball at Shobrooke Park on June 6? Email a letter with your comments to: [email protected]">[email protected] .