A mystery all-day open-air music event in Bristol has been refused permission amid fears about public nuisance, crime and disorder. Councillors threw out a request for a temporary event notice (TEN) for June 3 on Albany Green, Montpelier, after police and environmental health objected, having been provided with almost no details – including how it would be managed or even what kind of music would be played.
The applicant was not named and did not attend the hearing, but Bristol City Council licensing sub-committee heard it was not Glastonbury Festival legend Malcolm Haynes, landlord of the nearby Star & Garter pub, who has permission to hold eight events a year for up to 3,000 people on the open space. Members said they had no choice but to reject the proposed event for up to 50 people, from midday to 11pm, because of the complete lack of information.
Senior pollution control officer Mark Curtis told the panel that there were no details about how the number of attendees would be restricted even though the site was freely accessible. He said: “Without any further information about what the music was going to be and what measures would be in place to control the event, I had to object because of the likelihood of public nuisance, public disorder and public safety.”
Read more: Bristol pub Star and Garter can hold open-air events on Albany Green
Avon & Somerset Police licensing officer Louise Mowbray said she had spoken to Mr Haynes, who created Glastonbury’s Dance Village and has organised St Pauls Carnival, and that it was “nothing to do with him”. She said: “Albany Green is in the middle of a residential area.
“We have no idea how 50 people would be managed on that space or indeed if more than 50 people turned up.” She said the applicant did not consult with the authorities either before submitting the TEN request or after the objections were lodged.
“It’s the unknown – there are no details, I have no depth of knowledge or understanding of what they are going to do to uphold the licensing objectives of the prevention of public nuisance or even crime and disorder, so we have no real avenue other than to object to it,” she said. “As it stands we can’t have any guarantee that the numbers planned would not turn into something more which would then require public resources for the police service to manage any issues that arose.
“This will potentially cause traffic issues without all the relevant planning that should go into any event involving members of the public. It could attract any number of people.”
Panel member Cllr Brenda Massey (Labour, Southmead) said: “It’s really worrying that there is so little engagement in terms of how he would restrict it to 50 people, nothing about public toilets, nothing about collecting bottles or glass.” Cllr Sarah Classick (Lib Dem, Hengrove & Whitchurch Park) added: “Or even any information about what the event actually is.”
Announcing the decision sub-committee chairman Cllr Marley Bennett (Labour, Eastville) said: “Because of the concerns raised through the relevant agencies and the fact we have so little information, we have decided not to grant the application.”
Read next:
'Risk' to Chocolate Path reopening due to urgent flood defence work, says mayor
More County Ground gigs approved despite Tom Jones concert complaints
Thousands of Bristol families effectively cut from council housing waiting list
POLITICS: To keep up to date with latest Bristol politics news, and discuss thoughts with other residents, join our Bristol politics news and discussion here. You can also sign up to our politics newsletter here.
Click here for the latest headlines from in and around Bristol.
