NOISE and disruption caused by a beer festival damaged residents’ mental health, a councillor has warned.

Oktoberfest is due to return to The Level in Brighton next month, but only if organisers can secure a licence.

Residents have raised concerns about loud music and the loss of the park space before, during and after the two-day event.

One councillor described their complaints as “harrowing” at a licensing meeting on Tuesday.

But organisers have vowed to control noise levels this year and have hired sound experts to monitor the music’s volume.

Councillor Pete West told a meeting The Level served 35,000 households within a 15-minute walk.

He said many people had complained about last year’s event and this was affecting their mental health by increasing their stress.

And he raised concerns about existing issues with antisocial behaviour and drug dealing at the park.

He said: “The loss of the park for eight days puts considerable pressure on park use and has an impact on residents.

“I do not look forward to receiving further harrowing messages of concern of what people experience over a number of days because they cannot escape it by going away.”

Cllr West said it would be better to hold the event elsewhere in the city.

Promoter Ian Baird told the panel he understood worries about noise and said his company had not been aware of the extent of complaints until after last year’s event.

He said they received just one complaint to the neighbours’ hotline and had visited the person concerned.

This year he has hired acoustic consultants Joynes Nash to monitor sound levels and be on the end of the complaints phone line for residents.

Letters warning residents about the event on October 12 and 13 with the phone line number are due to go out to more streets this year.

Other methods to counter noise include using a different system to reduce bass vibrations.

Environmental health officers withdrew their objections to the event after Mr Baird’s company, Whiskey Bravo, submitted a noise management report.

Mr Baird said while the acoustic consultant would not have control of the volume switch, they would monitor the sound levels and would “certainly tell environmental health” of any issues.

He told the board he hoped to be on and off the site within eight days, two days fewer than last year.

The licensing panel decision is expected within five working days.