Premises Licensing Application for licensable activities in respect of a two day
event proposed in July/August 2022 at Butchers Wood, Rocks Road, TN22 3PT.
Two Applicants have applied to Wealden DC for licenses for sale of alcohol and the provision of regulated entertainment and live and recorded music, and late night refreshment for the above location.
Butchers Wood is an area of approx. 30 acres on the left side on the road from Shortbridge to Uckfield just before you go over the A 22 by-pass.There is quite a substantial field on your left before you get to it, which you may have seen is often used for dog training. This field is proposed to be used for car parking for the event, which has a cap for 2022 of 2,500 people. It should be noted that the proposal also includes the ability to hold one similar event in every future year, but with up to 5,000 people attending.
25 acres of Butchers Wood has since 2017 been owned by two brothers, S Cragg and R. Cragg, who reside in Sussex. The other 5 acres is retained by the previous landowner. The car parking field is separately owned, but it is understood the Applicants have come to an arrangement with the owners, as they have done with the owner of the other 5 acres of Butchers Wood. Although the Applicants reside in Essex, they have close connections with the main owners.
If you google the site, you will see that there have been two 4×4 off-road vehicle and bike events, which I understand have been held on the 5 acre site. A private party event was held at Butchers Wood in a previous year.
You will see separately posted here details of events to be licensed, operating hours and some background information, together with a copy of the actual Application, and proposed conditions.
I wanted to give some background information for Residents about the Licensing application process. Licenses are governed by the Licensing Act 2003 and the Application in this case will be heard by a Sub-Committee of 3 Wealden District Councillors on the basis of Information presented by Council Officers, the work being processed by Rother District Council, as Wealden have a shared service agreement for this process.
Representations therefore can be made in writing by any individual to Rother by email (licensing@rother.gov.uk) no later than 23rd February 2021.
The reference number is WK 2020 13115, with the address given above.
If the License is approved, before the event the Applicants will have to lodge an Events Management Plan to include event management documentation and a noise management plan to the satisfaction of the relevant agencies , which include a Safety Advisory Group (SAG) comprising the Police, Fire, SECAMB, NHS, Highways etc., before an event can proceed. This would happen next year.
With respect to any representation for the purposes of this Application, I would stress that these will not be valid and put before the Licensing Sub- Committee unless they relate to four specific issues as follows:-
- Prevention of Crime and Disorder
- Public Safety
- Public Nuisance
- Protection of children from harm
To Summarise, further details can be found in the attachment PDF documents below, which include:
A) Detailed Application with opening hours and detailed map
C) Additional conditions Prem Lic Operating Schedule Butchers Wood
PRA’s Executive are considering a response to be made, and would welcome any input from Residents by Wednesday 17th February.
I will be very happy to answer any queries by email (peter.roundell@gmail.com) or by phone on 01825 722030
The response was made on 23rd February from the PRA committee, after having the input from the local area: