A HUGE two-day international rock festival in Wirral has been given the go ahead by the council.
A letter sent out last night by the council said the event at Station Road, Thurstaston, will be open from 8am on Friday, May 28, 2010 until 4pm on Sunday, May 30, 2010.
Other conditions are that the number of tickets and passes be limited to 7,500.
The go-ahead came as a shock because the plans had stirred up opposition from many quarters..
Merseyside Police originally made representations to the council that loud music could “recklessly disturb” a pair of regularly breeding barn owls at the site – an offence under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981.
But before the council’s licensing committee met to consider the application for the event officers withdrew their representations over the owls and said they would not object if some of their criteria was met.
The council’s letter said: “The Sub-Committee gave consideration to representations from Environmental Health in respect of the prevention of public nuisance.
“Members also had regard to representations from interested parties, including Wirral Barn Owl Trust, Wirral Country Park, Thurstaston Caravan Owners Association, various other associations and societies including the Irby, Thurstaston and Pensby Amenity Society (ITPAS), Local Ward Councillors and individual residents relating to the potential for crime and disorder and public nuisance, as well as concerns relating to public safety and the protection of children from harm In determining the matter members took account of the fact that there was no representation from Merseyside Police, in particular relating to the Prevention of Crime and Disorder.”
The approval has five pages of conditions including: “Music provided by the event organiser must be confined within four marquees, and parking must be at least 240metre from the barn owl nest.”
Local councillor Jeff Green said he was astounded at the decision . He said: “I am really disappointed that this panel thought so little of the residents that they have decided to impose this event on them.”
Cllr Sue Taylor, forced to withdraw as chair of the committee after she commented about the event “obviously attracting local opposition” – said she was shocked.
http://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/live...estival-gets-go-ahead-100252-25318853/2/
