Simon is sitting in on the Licensing Sub Committee hearing taking place this afternoon to consider the application for a license to host the Summer Madness gig at land near Carisbrooke Castle at the end of the month.
He’ll make best effort to report as close as possible to what is being said.
2pm Committee Room 1
35 people turned up to the licensing committee meeting to decide on the Madness gig.
Cllr Scoccia opened the meeting remarking how pleasant it was to see so many members of the public.
Four applicants present alongside all of the relevant council officers.
Cllr Scoccia said “I’ Say very clearly
“As we know that the tickets have gone on sale, that makes no difference to the hearing today.”
The application was received on 15 June 2009.
As it’s over 5,000 people, Isle of Wight act is triggered.
Objection under Crime + disorder and public nuisance.
Police have asked for two additional conditions, which the management have agreed to.
Cllr Scoccia, “is there a reason that it’s only just coming to us now?” Reply, timing was fine.
John Marsh for the management opens. “We’ve been having discussions for a long time with police and all relevant authorities.”
First band on at 3:45. All music will be finished at 10:30, with the site being empty within an hour.
We changed a lot of our arrangements to ensure people are happy.
Everyone we’re using are well known professionals in the music biz.
70 security guards. Originally was going to be half that.
Cllr Sccoccia: 9,999 asked for. How many public.
9,000 tickets to the members of the public. Rest are support.
Cllr Bulwer, will you sell tickets on the gate?
Cllr Scoccia: You have a very large perimeter. How will you ensure others don’t get in?
Paul Macguire: We have fencing and security.
We’re working very well with English Heritage now and supplying security to them.
Update 1
Cllr Scoccia: Traffic. This is obviously going to have a huge, huge impact on the local area.
John Marsh: We’ve got capacity of 3,000 on the shuttle buses. Field will have capacity for 4,000 cars in the field.
Cllr Scoccia: Can all of these cars get in within 3/4 of an hour?
JM: We’ve engaged experts in getting people parked.
Cllr Bacon: Why this site?
JM: We think it’s a workable site. We were never looking for a big audience. More a boutique event.
Cllr Scoccia: What if it rains? There’s an incline on the site.
JM: The stage area doesn’t have much of an incline.
We’re spending tens of thousands on putting Trackway around the sites to ensure cars can get out.
Cllr Scoccia: Emergency vehicles?
JM: We’ve been given 12 minutes to clear the site and have been happy to comply.
Cllr Scoccia: Road is very narrow. Can emergency vehicles pass.
JM: They won’t need to be, it’s one way.
Cllr Scoccia: What about toilets?
JM: We’ve over ordered toilets. 90 in total. Also spoke to Southern Water about the safe disposal of grey water.
Cllr Scoccia: How will you stop people using hedges?
JM: We have lots of security.
Cllr Bulwer: Bag searches will slow people going in.
JM: AP security are doing this event. Used to doing Glastonbury, etc. They say their happy with the speed of getting people in.
Update 2
Cllr Bulwer: Will all security be Male?
JM: No, not for a long time. It’s worth pointing out that the audience
will be middle aged for this event.
Cllr Bacon: What about clearing the site?
JM: Longest time getting people out of the car park. We’ve asked
Southern Vectis to provide over 30 buses. There will be no camping on
the site.
We will have a full sweep of the site, including the …
Cllr Bacon: I’d like to tie you down on timings.
JM: Two hours to clear the car park
Last bus 11:30pm
PA taken down will be by 1am.
Cllr Scoccia: How will kit get in?
The majority will be down Froglands Lane. Build starts the Wednesday before.
Cllr Scoccia: What about access for the residents?
They will be given two passes to each household taken around to their houses.
There will be a hotline for people to call if the sound too great.
E-comm will be doing independent sound level monitoring.
Cllr Scoccia: Have all details been received in time for the IW Act?
Yes
Cllr Bacon: Is this a one off? Or more frequent?
JM:We would like to do an event every year on this bank holiday. That’s why we want to make it run as smoothly as possible.
Police speaking now
Update 3
Police: Promoters have agreed with alm every suggestion is made to them.
Cllr Bulwer: Marshalling on the highway?
Police: Down to the promoter.
Council legal: We’ve had no representation from Highways.
Mr Wooton (env health): We’d want the details 7 days in advance of the
event. No amplified music on the Saturday. Sound hotline may be
private number or through WightCare.
Local Member: Cllr Hobart: I’ve been asked by some of the residents to
bring somethings to your attention.
Unusual application. IW Act specifically written to avoid trouble for residents.
Notification to me and resident should have been made to 1 May. It wasn’t.
Legal: We’re here for Premises Lic not the IW Act. There is no statutory need to contact the local member.
Cllr Hobart: Seeing the license notice I contacted the right council officer.
A number of local resident keep livestock. People are very concerned about them.
Noise level and number of people will cause distress to the animals and the residents.
People could be put ‘in harms way’ by people being drunk.
Having 10k people in the lanes could cause irreparable damage.
There’s a double hedge row has already been grubbed out. This is an offence.
May be up to 2,000 scooters. If it rains they could do untold damage.
There’s a potential for fire as it’s in the summer.
Grave concerns about the Saxon burial land (nice pun!)
Although it could be considered Nimbyism to say they don’t mind the
event going on, but somewhere else.
This could be jeopardised in “Just one day of Madness.”
Update 4
Next up are public statements
First: The site isn’t appropriate. Hyperdermic needles are a concern.
Ben Huffton: Emergency exit is my major concern, also the ground isn’t
in good condition.
Prof Russell: Main concern for me environmental. AONB comments were
not allowed to be taken into consideration.
Alteration to the hedge rows is a criminal offence. I have a grab from
Google Earth which shows how they were before.
Lane has high potential for people hurting themselves.
Legal: There is an offence for tampering with hedges. Suggest that
they report this to enforcement.
Update 5
Legal: AONB and archaeological interest are outside the IW Act.
Vivian Garat brother: Applaud the promoter on bringing band.
Ask you to stop it under the prevention of crime and disorder act.
Mr Kirby: Concern that you might not have the correct papers. What was online was not the final papers.
I wonder if the application was made late to put pressure on.
Police should have been paid yesterday. I wonder if they have been paid.
There aren’t enough security people to monitor the boundary.
I think this a wholly inappropriate site.
Back to the panel.
Update 6
Lady: Major concern. Local youth are preparing to storm the castle on
the night. 73 security isn’t enough. We’re very frightened about what
might go wrong.
Mr Levy: The residents are sure that this is the wrong location. A
very sensitive and vulnerable area. It’s sheer folly to allow it to go
ahead here.
Surprised that the police and English Heritage haven’t given a more
robust objection.
Back to the panel.
Update 7
Cllr Bulwer: Narrow lanes – Any provisions for lighting?
JM: People walking will be on Whitcombe Lane, not the narrow lane.
We’re putting additional lighting in.
Cllr Bulwer: Children as young as five there? Will they get bored
there? Any provision for them? How about making it no one under 10.
JM: Don’t think people of that age will be coming. Now stopping people
between 5-10 years old now might be a little mean.
Cllr Scoccia: What about people who get ejected?
JM: It’s been covered with agreement between AP security and police.
Cllr Bacon: Number of security people confusing. 6 each on gates. What
about the rest?
JM: Security people on road and path closures; backstage; etc.
Cllr Bulwer: The concern is the size of site and keeping the perimeter secure.
Update 8
Cllr Bacon: What about the scooters?
JM: Encouraging scooterist to take the shuttle bus. Those who don’t
will be able to park.
Cllr Bacon: At what number of sales is the event viable?
JM: We hope to sell as many as practical.
Summing up
Update 9
Public: This a wholly inappropriate site for the event.
JM: We’ve worked hard with officers to make sure this event is a
success. We are committed to it going well.
Now decision ( may be a while)
Update 10
Permission has been granted.
Further conditions added were:.
Event management plan.
Outlets not to be sold powders.
License hours changed: 15:00 – 22:30.
No ticket sales on the site.
Marshalling plan agreed by police no later than 7 days before event.
50 toilets for women, lots for men too
8 toilets in the parking
