A Belfast City Councillor has raised questions about the local impact of the Belfast Beer and Cider festival, which moves to Botanic Gardens this year.
At the recent monthly meeting of the full council (March 1), Sinn Fein Botanic Councillor John Gormley raised questions about the Belfast Beer and Cider Festival which will be held from May 18 to 21 at Botanic Gardens.
It is the first year the festival will be held at a public park, after previously being held at the Ulster Hall.
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At the council meeting elected members agreed that events in city parks that seek multiple year approval will be subject to annual review.
Councillor Gormley told the chamber: “I would just like to emphasise the importance of the promoter being required to submit an event management plan, which will include an assessment of how the event will impact upon the surrounding area and the measures to mitigate these impacts.
“Those impacts and mitigations will presumably include noise, music, crowd dispersal, and any risk of unacceptable behaviour that might arise from an event where alcohol plays a central part. It should also include the impact of the festival running for four consecutive days.”
He said he would be asking the council’s Director of Neighbourhood Services over the opening hours. Past festivals have run from noon until 11 pm. Councillor Gormley said this would be “a long day for Botanic Gardens.”
He also said there were questions as to where the admission fee would be paid, at the entrance to the Marquee, or the front gate. The latter would mean loss of free access to the Gardens at the main entrance.
Also agreed at the council meeting were the AVA Festival Bespoke Campsite on June 3 and 4 at Victoria Park, the Féile an Phobail annual events programme at Falls Park and Dunville Park, and the Circus Extreme from October 21 to November 6 at Boucher Road Playing Fields.
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