Agenda and draft minutes

Having taken into account the licensing Act 2003 and the guidance issued under Section 182 of the Act, the Council’s Statement of Licensing Policy and also the fact that a local Councillor had requested a review of the premise licence to promote the licensing objectives relating to the Prevention of Public Nuisance and Public Safety, the Committee have considered the relevant licensing objectives and also relevant representations both in favour and against the premises licence and have listened to the arguments and are persuaded that action does need to be taken by the Licensing Authority under its statutory powers to promote the licensing objectives.

Much has been said by the applicants about the nuisance caused during the Junction 16 event last year (2013). Noise nuisance over the three day event was unacceptable as a result of the sound from speakers being directed into Betley village and it has been ascertained that the noise management plan agreed prior to that event had not been adhered to.  It was apparent that feelings over the proposed new event this year was mixed and certain residents were happy to achieve a compromise.  Concern was expressed that policing in the village was totally inadequate and that further policing was necessary to prevent anti-social behaviour.

The use of Common Lane as an access and egress from the event site also caused considerable problems last year and residents expressed the view that patrons of the event had no legal right to use the highway and if it was used then is should be used at no inconvenience to the residents adjoining the lane.  Further, residents had been advised that the event organisers were willing to work with the public in relation to the proposed event but that thus far it had not happened.

It was suggested that the volume of vehicles accessing and exiting the site bought their own problems in that the area became gridlocked which in itself made a traffic management plan necessary for the proposed event.  Some residents were also concerned  the length of the proposed event being over three days and also the sound testing which caused considerable noise inconvenience including the disruption of a church service on the Sunday morning.

In response to the evidence given a spokesman for the event organisers stated that they had been bought into the organisation of last year’s event rather late in the day and that arrangements made were chaotic.  They were involved in firefighting.  He did however, confirm the organisers commitment to working with the residents and that had they been employed earlier there would have been no complaints of this nature.

It was confirmed that this year Common Lane was only proposed to be used for a limited time at the end of the event to take pressure off the roads and they were proposing a proper management plan with traffic lights.  There was no intention of causing inconvenience to residents.

In accordance with the existing licence conditions it was confirmed that the event  ...  view the full minutes text for item 1.