Agenda item

The Sub Committee considered an application for the grant of a premises licence to permit licensable activities at the Sidmouth Folk Festival event at the location known as Betsy’s Knapp, Corner of Bickwell Lane and Station Road/Bulverton Road, Sidmouth.

The applicant, Sidmouth Folk Week Productions Ltd, entitled to make representations, was represented by John Radford of JR Event Services Ltd.

The interested party who had submitted representations was not present.

The Licensing Officer presented the report and noted that the application was for a time limited licence covering the period 2 to 9 August 2024, with different finish times for the sale of alcohol, late night refreshment and entertainment into the early hours of 10 August.

It was noted that the hours applied for are the same as the previous year.  One representation had been received and no mediation had taken place.

There were no questions from Members or the applicant’s agent for the Licensing Officer.

The applicant’s agent made the case for the application and noted that this out of town venue had been part of the Folk Festival for many years since 1997.  The venue provided a late night social space serving the campsite.  The PA system would face up the valley and significant ground work had been undertaken to mitigate any sound issues.  The applicant had engaged with Environmental Health and a noise management plan was in place.

In response to a question from Members, the applicant’s agent advised that he had last been involved in the event’s production prior to 2020 and in 2019 there had been complaints from two residents which had been managed by the Festival organisers.  Sound levels could be managed through the sound desk and were also sometimes affected by weather conditions.

The Environmental Health Officer advised that one complaint had been received in previous years regarding noise levels and that a management plan for 11pm to 7am had been introduced to ensure that there would be no sleep disturbance at sensitive properties nearby.  Information regarding any complaints was fed back to the management team at the time and plans are living documents which can be adapted to deal with any issues.

The applicant’s agent did not wish to make a closing statement.

The Chair thanked everyone for attending and advised that the Sub Committee would notify its decision in writing in five working days.