Meeting documents

The Principal Solicitor reported that the authority had received an application for the variation of conditions for the occasional public entertainment licence granted in respect of the Download Festival 2005 to be held at Donington Park on Friday, 10 June, Saturday, 11 June and Sunday 12 June 2005.

... A report detailing the application with enclosures had been produced by the Head of Environmental Protection and this was circulated to members (copy retained with the official copy of the minutes).

John Probyn on behalf of the applicant company then attended the meeting together with Gareth Crossley, Head of Environmental Protection and Ian Baker the Council's consultant on health and safety matters to do with the festival.

Mr Crossley referred to the report that had been submitted to members and drew members' attention to the conditions associated with the licence that had already been issued limiting the attendance to the festival in both the arena area and the campsite. It was in respect of the campsite that the applicant was now seeking to increase the capacity limit from 25,000 to 35,000 people. This had been caused by the fact that demand for weekend tickets had out stripped that limited capacity and hence the increased capacity limit was now being sought.

He highlighted from the report the specific considerations that the committee should consider in particular a letter from the Castle Donington Parish Council which highlighted several considerations that should be addressed in granting any proposed variation in particular the need to provide toilet facilities in the village of Castle Donington itself. He also explained the options open to the Committee which were either to grant the variation as submitted, grant the variation with amended conditions or to refuse the application.

The Chairman then invited John Probyn to address the Committee and he started with an apology in that the 25,000 figure was purely and simply an oversight on his part in that the submission of this document had been produced by consultants acting on the applicant's behalf and this figure had been missed in proof reading that particular submission.

With regard to the comments made by the Parish Council the applicant company had already taken on board the points raised in terms of the sufficiency of facilities on the site and the company was more than happy to provide additional toilet facilities in the village itself if the Committee deemed that to be an appropriate condition.

The Chairman then invited questions from members of the Committee and the first concerned security measures in place to combat any illegal camping. Mr Probyn confirmed that he had arranged for additional security around the site and had taken advice from the police and a contingency plan had been devised in the event of there being significant difficulties.

In answer to a question from a local member Mr Probyn advised that to try and stop anti-social behaviour in the village his company were more than happy to provide additional toilet facilities in the village itself, the siting of those to be discussed with the Head of Environmental Protection.

Reference was also made to the footpath that crossed the site and Mr Probyn advised that it had now been decided that the route of this footpath should be maintained and that anybody wishing to walk this route during the course of the festival would be escorted across the site by one of the marshalling team.

In response to a question Mr Probyn explained how this additional volume of campers would be accommodated on the campsite facility.

In answer to a further question Mr Probyn indicated the facilities that were now being provided on site in terms of general catering, cafe, pharmacy, newsagents, camping gear stockists, general entertainment with a view therefore to the campers not needing to go off site.

The applicant, Mr Crossley and Mr Baker then left the meeting whilst the Committee deliberated.

The applicant, Mr Crossley and Mr Baker were then invited back into the meeting and the Chairman advised them of the Committee's decision which was as follows: