Cracks have appeared in a bid to bring in tough new rules on outdoor concerts to cut down complaints about noise, it was revealed yesterday.

New regulations -- which will start from next year -- are aimed at lessening the problems caused by concerts without wrecking youth entertainment.

But last night one of the concert promoter members of the think-tank, Clay House Inn chief Choy Aming, predicted the new rules would not work.

The changes are the brainchild of a special committee involving Police, concert promoters, Government officials and representatives of the Corporation of Hamilton and the West End Development Company.

One committee member said: "We are dealing with an issue of balance. We recognise the need for entertainment for the youth and all segments of the community.

"But we have to look at the impact concerts have on the whole community and be realistic about the fact that we are only 22 square miles.'' The committee has identified 15 locations Islandwide which are suitable for concerts, including wintertime venue Number One Shed on Front Street.

Each venue would have one concert a year, with a cut-off time of 1 a.m.

Promoters will have to stick to agreed starting and finishing times.

But Mr. Aming said: "Eventually we will have to make some changes because I don't think one concert per venue a year will work.

"It's 15 nights a year out of 365 -- you would find concerts will die down because that's not enough to go round.'' Mr. Aming added that concert-goers, who traditionally prefer a later start for concerts, would not accept a 1 a.m. finishing time and stop turning up for events.

He said: "If you start a show at 8.30 or 9 p.m. in the summer it's still daylight. You need a good lighting effect to bring a show out and that can't work when it's light.'' But Mr. Aming accepted that promoters would have no choice but to stick to the rules. "I'm not happy about it, but if it's the law we have to abide by it.''