‘It’s so loud, it’s ear-bleeding!’ Bizarre row erupts over noisy Euro 2022 bunting as residents say plastic flapping in the wind on high street is ruining their peace and quiet
- Leigh, in Greater Manchester, is set to host four Women’s Euro 2022 matches
- But residents in the town say bunting hung up for the event is creating noise
- It comes as England are set to kick off the tournament tonight against Austria
Chanting crowds, packed pubs and the smell of fried onions wafting from a food van are the kind of things people living near a football stadium might reasonably be expected to bear during a major tournament.
But for residents in one town, the upcoming Women’s Euro 2022 finals has brought an unexpected nuisance.
In Leigh, Greater Manchester, which will host four Euro 2022 matches this summer, a bizarre row has broken out about bunting hung up to mark the event.
Residents in the town, home to the 7,800-capacity Leigh Sports Village, say the small flags strung across the high street are producing an ‘ear-bleeding’ racket.
One business owner said she knew the complaint sounded silly. But she said the noisy flags posed a real issue for some.
She said: ‘I know there’s more important things to worry about, but the noise is ear-bleeding. They’re so loud.
In the town of Leigh (pictured), Greater Manchester, which will host four Euro 2022 matches this summer, a bizarre row has broken out over bunting
Residents in the town, home to the 7,800-capacity Leigh Sports Village, say the small flags strung across the high street to mark the event are producing an ‘ear-bleeding’ racket
‘I feel so sorry for anyone who is neurodivergent, a lot of people with autism spectrum can’t cope with noise like that, it can send them into meltdown.
‘I know I sound like a “Karen” but it’s just my opinion.’
The decorations feature national flags of the teams competing in the 2022 UEFA European Women’s Football Championship.
The tournament begins tonight with England taking on Austria at Manchester United’s Old Trafford stadium tonight.
Leigh will play host to four games at the Leigh Sports Village during the summer tournament.
But the flags have whipped up a storm because some residents are upset with the noise they make in blustery conditions.
The noise has been described as sounding like rain is pelting down on the road, and comes from the plastic bunting flapping in the wind.
Customers at an outdoor café next to Leigh bus station, where flags have also been erected, said the noise was ‘a bit annoying’ when they were trying to eat their food.
Leigh will host four Euro 2022 matches in its 7,800-capacity Leigh Sports Village. The tournament kicks off tonight with England (pictured) set to play Austria
The tournament begins tonight, with England taking on Austria at Manchester United’s Old Trafford stadium (pictured) tonight. During the tournament, Leigh will play host to four games at the Leigh Sports Village
Lynn said: ‘I think they are only annoying when you are sat down and having a meal. It was making a big clatter. But I wouldn’t have complained.’
Another customer said the noise hadn’t worried her, but she had heard staff in shops on the high street speaking about them.
She said: ‘It’s alright for me because I can walk away.’
However, others say they are not bothered by the noise.
Another local business owner, who didn’t want to be named, said: ‘I’m excited the Women’s Euros are coming to Leigh,’ she said. ‘It’s a good thing.’
The row is reminiscent of the one sparked by the vuvuzela, which split opinion during the 2010 South Africa world cup.
The instrument, a long plastic horn which has become a symbol of South African football, produces a low drone which became the backing sound to the competition.
But it became a symbol of annoyance to some fans, who found the continuous noise grating.
It was followed up in 2014 by Brazil’s ‘caxirola’, which failed to attract as much attention as the noisy vuvuzela.
Wigan Council, which is responsible for the maintenance of Leigh High Street, has been contacted for comment.
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