Bid to hold music festival on Green Belt land angers Thurstaston residents

Oct 14 2009 by Carrie Catterall, Heswall News

Bid to hold music festival on Green Belt land angers Thurstaston residents

A BID to hold a music event on Green Belt land has angered some Thurstaston residents.

Geb White, of White’s Farm made an application under the Licensing Act 2003, to hold a three-day rock/pop festival on his land on Station Road over the Whit weekend next year.

The application includes holding a liquor licence from 1pm until 1.30am on May 28 and 29, and from 9am to 1pm on May 30.

The Irby Thurstaston and Pensby Amenity Society, a community organisation established over 30 years ago, is highly concerned about this and says it goes against their aims to protect and maintain the Green Belt.

The society has approximately 250 member households.

Tim Mobbs, ITPAS chairman said: “This application includes the provision of parking 7,500 cars and pitching of 1,500 tents.

“We are also led to believe that the applicants wish to bus the attendees from Thurstaston to Liverpool after each night’s festivities.

“Neither we nor local residents have been consulted by any persons or organisation on this matter.

“The plans we have been made aware of so far have not taken into account the feelings of local residents, traffic issues or the protection of wildlife, which is in abundance within the area.

“There will be enormous disruption to villagers, church goers, visitors to Wirral Country Park, caravan park and sailing club on what is historically one of the busiest weekends in the calendar at Wirral’s second most popular tourist destination.”

There are also concerns about safety and emergency access as more vehicles and people flock to the area.

Mr Mobbs added: “If this licence is granted, the public nuisance and disruption to residents and family visitors to Wirral Country Park will be huge.”

Geb White, applicant and owner of White’s Farm, said he doesn’t wish to comment on these issues until he gets the licence for the event.

Anybody who wishes to make representation in respect of the application should write to Licensing Authority, Town Hall, Brighton Street, Wallasey, by November 2.