Glastonbury Festival director Melvin Benn has submitted a licence application to Mendip District Council.
The council’s licensing department is now gathering the views of the responsible authorities - the police, fire brigade, environmental health, trading standards, planning and social services.
These bodies have responsibility for ensuring the application meets standards in four key areas:
Prevention of crime and disorder
Public safety
Prevention of public nuisance
Protection of children from harm.
The application is the first made for a festival since the implementation of new licensing laws.
Under the new laws a four-year licence is being applied for. The application is for an annual event to be held on a maximum of six days. The dates proposed for this year’s event are June 20 – 25.
The six days applies to the total amount of time the site would be open, but the music on the main stages - as in previous years – would be limited to the three core festival days.
Organisers also want to increase the number of attendees from 150,000 to 177,500, on a larger site with a new campsite and entertainment area.
Under the licensing laws interested parties, namely people living or businesses operating ‘within the vicinity,’ can put forward their views for consideration, but any comments must be made in writing to the district council’s licensing department by March 9.
Anyone who wants to view the application needs to visit the council offices at Cannards Grave Road in Shepton Mallet – but visits must be pre-arranged. If you would like to see the application please contact customer services on 01749 648999 or
customerservices@mendip.gov.uk.
Views of the responsible authorities and any other relevant representations received will be considered by the council’s licensing board on March 26, when a decision on the application is expected to be made.
