Bon Jovi at old Trafford, the last concert there ever?

manchesternews
Old Trafford battle

John Scheerhout


OLD Trafford cricket ground faces a new battle to carry on as a pop concert venue - and so does Manchester United's home.

Council bosses have written to both cricket and football clubs to tell them they must win planning permission if they want to stage concerts next year.

It follows a landmark ruling after families living near Twickenham rugby ground, which had hosted concerts, challenged the club and it was forced to seek planning consent - which it won.

Trafford council believes the ruling now requires both LCCC and Manchester United to seek planning approval. If either ground loses, they will not be allowed to stage any more concerts.

Decision

Residents near the cricket ground said that the decision represents another chance to end concerts at the stadium once and for all.

They have campaigned against them for two years and earlier this year, the council backed them and refused to allow a Bruce Springsteen gig.

But councillors on the licensing committee were forced to reverse their decision after the club appealed to magistrates.

The 50,000 gig went ahead last week, although with stricter conditions designed to help the residents.

Now the campaign has been given new life after council bosses said they would require LCCC and Manchester United to seek planning approval to stage shows.

Previously, the clubs were merely required to get the approval of the licensing committee for each gig, which will remain the case.

Fight

"It's another avenue for us to go down to get rid of concerts altogether. We are not giving up the fight," said Lynne Jenkinson, spokesman for the Greatstone Road residents' association.

Coun Pauleen Lane said the council had written to both clubs and said planning applications were expected "within a few months" ahead of any concerts next year. Any applications will involve a huge consultation exercise taking in thousands of residents.

The Move music festival at LCCC and the Bon Jovi concert at the United ground will go ahead and will not require planning permission, she said.

LCCC sales and marketing manager Geoff Durbin said the club spent £40,000 in legal fees in overturning the Springsteen decision and had proved it was one of the best venues in the country.

It is understood bosses at Manchester United will consider future concerts following the Bon Jovi gig

How far apart are the football and cricket venues from each other? Do they ever have concerts at the cricket venue? (Great ground by the way. )

yes they do - bruce springsteen recently, and bands such as REM coming up soon... Bowie played there last year, and Oasis

Old Trafford: the only one i can ever think of was that Simpyl RED/M People tv concert that time... and then now the Bon Jovi show

stadium shows in manchester normally took place at Maine Road:

Oasis
Bon Jovi
Pink Floyd
Fleetwood Mac