Agenda item

Consideration was given to an application for the grant of a Premises Licence, under the provisions of the Licensing Act 2003, in respect of farming land adjacent to the A618 Pleasley Road and off Guilthwaite Common Lane within the Parish of Whiston, Rotherham.

The Licensing Authority received representations which were not withdrawn and the Sub-Committee considered those representations.

The applicant explained that the intention was to obtain a premises licence for a field (previously used for agricultural purposes) in order to provide regulated entertainment, as a commercial enterprise, to be entitled the “Wheat Beat Weekender”. There would be one event per year, beginning in 2019 and initially the event would last from Friday afternoon until very late in the evening of the next day (Saturday).  The future years’ events may last from Thursday until Sunday.

In addition, the applicant detailed the proposed event management arrangements, car parking, traffic management, health and safety, toilet facilities, the removal and disposal of refuse/waste and also post event site restoration, including grass seeding. There would be a designated “blue route” specifically for use by emergency services’ vehicles. Persons attending the event would have to purchase tickets in advance of the selected date, via the dedicated Internet web site. There would be no permitted admission to the event by payment of cash on arrival at the site entry point.

The intention was to provide a range of regulated (public) entertainment (with live music of varied styles, including Bhangra, folk, jazz and rock music), poetry recitals, the sale of hot and cold food and the sale of alcohol. A stage for performers would be erected within the site, for the duration of the event. The aim of the event was to be family-oriented and visitors would be offered the facility of camping on an area of ground within the licensed site.

The applicant referred to his current experience within management planning, health and safety and sound recording.

The planning of the event provided for 300 hundred visitors in the first year, with a year-on-year increase to as many as 4,000 visitors in the fifth year of the event.

The Sub-Committee heard from a Borough Councillor, as representative of the electoral Ward in which the site was situated, who stated that a dozen residents had attended a Councillors’ Ward surgery and had raised concerns about the licence application and the proposed event. The specific concerns related to traffic congestion caused both by vehicles servicing the site and by visitors to the event, especially along the A618 Pleasley Road, which was already subject to heavy traffic congestion particularly at the peak commuter hours.  There were other concerns about the noise from the entertainment, especially loud music and the noise and public nuisance caused by persons both within and leaving the site very late in the evening, with the consumption of alcohol possibly exacerbating these problems. It was anticipated that the concerns of nearby residents would be likely to increase in future years if larger numbers of visitors were to attend the event.

The applicant responded by stating that the traffic management plan would ensure that vehicles would not be permitted to enter the site before 10.00 a.m. each day. There would be a sufficient number of stewards employed on site to ensure that the public/visitors would vacate the site in an orderly manner, especially late in the evenings, by moving from the dedicated parking area and being directed to the main A618 Pleasley Road and avoiding the smaller country lanes which led to residential areas. Visitors would be encouraged to use public transport.

The applicant confirmed that there would be substantial fencing erected around the site perimeter, which would also include material to dampen the sound from the entertainment. The noise level of the regulated entertainment would be monitored from various locations on site during the event. The applicant was confident that the stage for performances was to be located far enough away from the nearest noise sensitive premises so as to minimise any potential noise nuisance.

The Borough Ward Councillor suggested that the applicant ought to publish and provide informative details about the event, for distribution to residents in the local area. The applicant undertook to consider providing such details about the event, for the information of the general public.

The Sub-Committee noted that the representations made on behalf of the Whiston Parish Council, the three Borough Ward Councillors themselves and on behalf of the South Yorkshire Police had been responded to by the applicant, prior to commencement of this hearing and that the suggested conditions to be attached to any premises licence which may be granted had been amended accordingly with the agreement of those parties.

The Sub-Committee considered the application for this premises licence and the representations made specifically in the light of the following Licensing objectives (as defined in the 2003 Act):-

- The prevention of crime and disorder;

- The prevention of public nuisance;

- Public safety.

Resolved:- (1) That the application for a Premises Licence, under the provisions of the Licensing Act 2003 and as now submitted, in respect of farming land adjacent to the A618 Pleasley Road and off Guilthwaite Common Lane within the Parish of Whiston, Rotherham, be granted and be subject to the standard conditions and to all of the various conditions as set out within the bundle of documents submitted to this hearing (including the provision of late night refreshment until midnight).

(2) That, further to resolution (1) above, the Premises Licence shall also be subject to the following additional conditions:-

(a) a maximum of 500 persons / visitors at the organised event, which can only be varied by agreement with representatives of the appropriate responsible authorities;

(b) within a period of twenty-one days after the ending of the organised event, the applicant shall attend a meeting with representatives of the appropriate responsible authorities in order to provide a de-briefing in relation to the way in which the event had proceeded.