While I appreciate councils have an obligation to investigate any "pollution" complaints they receive, it seems to me there is a danger of councils rushing to install these devices at venues, often I suspect just to get a minority of persistent complainant(s) off their backs. But don't they also have a duty towards the rest of us – the majority?

I do not know how often live-music occurs at Wortwell Community Centre, but I doubt it is every evening, or for that matter even every weekend.

So why is the viability of live music there being threatened by this draconian action, and how much noise seepage is actually occurring – and at what decibel level?

At this stage I must declare my interest. I am a member of a popular six-piece '60s band who usually play Wortwell two or three time a year.

We are not a loud band and have no wish to be, given that our audiences are usually aged 40-plus. I would also add we play at other venues far closer to housing than Windmill Road and The Packway, Wortwell, without complaint.

Our satisfactory sound output was confirmed by a council environmental officer who attended during one of our bookings but, nevertheless, we are still adversely affected by this device.

Surely if you reasonably want to measure the overall output from a 'live stage', one doesn't fix the device to a pillar on the stage itself before the sound has properly discharged into the hall – a point also raised by Mr Foster.

If we subsequently refuse to accept further bookings at Wortwell and other bands do the same, the income generated by the bar will suffer and the future viability of the whole social club could be placed in jeopardy. While the complainant(s) might be happy to see that happen – is that what we really want our elected representative to be presiding over?

As a result of similar equipment being fitted at Wymondham Ex-Servicemen's Club we, and other bands, no longer play there. Unless common sense prevails and a blanket installation of this equipment is avoided, live music will be killed off by the tail wagging the dog.

So let's spend money on soundproofing and double glazing if there really is a problem, and not ruin the viability of one of the best community facilities for miles around.

Mike Durrant
Kipling Way, Stowmarket

• With reference to last week's report about Wortwell Community Centre, not only is the football club losing funding, people will not hold weddings or other functions because bands will not play there any more

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This could be the beginning of the end for the venue. I lived in Wortwell all my childhood and now live in Redenhall. We held raffles, bazaars and other events for years to fund the building of the centre.

If you live near a church you do not complain about the sound of the bells and if you live near a community centre, turn your TV up and be happy people are enjoying themselves on a few Saturdays in the year.