Application:
[The applicant has (since the application was received) agreed by way of additional licence conditions if the licence is granted, to provide event management documentation and a noise management plan to the satisfaction of the relevant agencies (this will go to the Safety Advisory Group (SAG – Police, Fire, Secamb, NHS, Highways etc) for consideration before an event can proceed).Therefore, the applicant is not required to provide an event management plan as part of the premises licence application. This approach is standard in Wealden and is used for music events at other outdoor licensed premises in the district.
I understand that the first event is planned for July 2022; if we looked at event management documentation now it would be outdated before the event. The event management plan will go through the SAG process in 2022.]
A JPEG image of the area to be licensed: Click here to see the map in more detail: Site Plan
The premises licence will be restricted to one, two day event per year in July or August, the terminal hours for music and alcohol are relatively early.
The licence if granted would be limited to less than 5,000; the applicant is looking at a maximum capacity of 2,500 for the 2022 event.
Applicant’s description:
Partly ancient woodland surrounded by fields on three sides. Broadleaved, mixed species, with some small clearings. The centre of the site is approximately 1.5km from Uckfield High Street, as the crow flies. The 30 acre site is privately owned. The A22 runs along the east border. It is proposed that a small, two-day, arts and music festival be held on the site. It is intended that licensable activities including the sale and consumption of alcohol will occur within the confines of the licenced area. Live amplified music will begin at 11:00am and finish at 22:30. Amplified music will not constitute the entire duration of the event as the day will be interspersed with quieter times.
Licensable activities and hours requested:
Live Music
Saturday 11:00 to 22:30 hrs
Sunday 11:00 to 22:00 hrs
Recorded Music
Saturday 10:30 to 22:30 hrs
Sunday 10:30 to 22:00 hrs
Dance
Saturday 11:00 to 22:30 hrs
Sunday 11:00 to 22:00 hrs
Entertainment of a Similar Description
Saturday 10:30 to 22:30 hrs
Sunday 10:30 to 22:00 hrs
Late night refreshment
Saturday 23:00 to 01:00 hrs (Mon am)
Sunday 23:00 to 01:00 hrs (Mon am)
Alcohol
Saturday 11:00 to 22:15 hrs
Sunday 11:00 to 21:45 hrs
Opening hours
Saturday 10:30 to 22:59 hrs
Sunday 10:30 to 22:59 hrs
Late-night refreshment will only be available to staff and crew after their shift. No live entertainment/amplified music will be in operation between these times (23:00 – 10:30).
The application is for regulated entertainment and the sale of alcohol within the proposed licensed area; the actual event itself doesn’t need to be licensed.
The application will go to the licensing sub-committee for determination if there are relevant objections.
The applicant will receive a copy of relevant objections in due course; objections will be published in a public report (email + phone numbers are redacted). Objectors will be invited to address the sub-committee where they will need to evidence why the applicant will not meet the licensing objectives (sub-committee meetings are currently held remotely on MS Teams and televised)..
Please note that unlike Planning, licensing officers do not give a view or comments on premises licence applications. The Licensing Act 2003 states that the application will be granted as applied for, unless there are relevant objections. The Act reflects the Government’s ‘minded to grant’ design of the legislation; this is offset by the community protection safeguard in the Act by means of the licence review process (once a licence is granted, if the licence holder does not uphold the licensing objections).
The Act allows for concerns to be raised via relevant representations which will be considered in relation to the licensing objectives by the councillors who sit on the licensing sub-committee.
The applicants are also likely to address the sub-committee and demonstrate how they intend to meet the licensing objectives e.g. event management plan, noise management plan etc.
Representations must be received by 23/2/2021 and in writing to licensing@rother.gov.uk with the objectors name and full postal address.