CHIPPENHAM NEWS: OFFICIALS at Chippenham Town Football Club turned down the volume of their pre-match announcements last weekend after a resident complained about the noise.

Officers from North Wiltshire District Council's environmental health department asked the Bluebirds to quieten down the PA system after carrying out noise tests at a home in nearby Yewstock Crescent West.

Neighbours say the PA system at Hardenhuish Park, coupled with the thumping of drums and chanting from about 500 fans during games, can sometimes make it feel like the matches are being played in their living rooms.

Valerie Upchurch said she had more of a problem with the noise during weekday evenings than she did at weekends.

"The match announcements and drumming are a bit loud and it seems like the same compilation tape is always being played," she said.

"I don't think the noise is something you can totally object to because it's the sort of thing you have to expect living near a football ground."

Bluebirds fan Charles Carter, who lives nearby, said there was nothing to complain about.

He has been supporting the club for the last 17 years and said the noise was a small sacrifice to make because, on average, games were only played once a fortnight.

He said: "Anybody who buys a house here knows there is a football ground nearby. It has been a very successful club over the last five years and it's good they get a lot of people backing them.

"When the PA system was updated for safety reasons it did seem to get louder. I don't think the sound is excessive but I do think the announcer has to be more considerate about the volume when a goalscorer is announced."

Chippenham Town secretary Chris Blake said the club took action before last Saturday's 3-0 home victory against Havant and Waterloo-ville, and would continue to monitor noise levels.

He said: "North Wiltshire District Council determined that the pre-match ann-ouncements were too loud but the music was not a problem. The council also said the half-time announcements and the scorer and substitute announcements did not constitute a problem.

"We are investigating how to reduce the noise but the direction of the wind can have an impact on it because it often takes noise over Yewstock."