IT is capable of being one of the biggest open air boozers in the kingdom: Liverpool’s Sefton Park.
The city council’s licensing committee has approved an application for a full off and on licence in Sefton Park to cater for events of up to 39,999 people.
It’s part of a council strategy to attract big scale events to Sefton Park, with talk of a permanent stage being constructed. Boxing tournaments, concerts and large scale events could now be attracted to Aigburth and its Victorian green space.
Objections
There was strong opposition to the application, made by the city council which already holds a licence for events in the park. The new licence is a 12 month permit covering the on sale and off sale of alcohol between 10am and 10pm, with the capacity increased from the current maximum of 9,999 people to 39,999.
It'll be bigger than thisMore than 500 local residents lodged objections and a petition signed by 60 people was submitted, and about 20 objectors turned up at the committee meeting.
The principal concerns raised by the representations can be summarised as follows:-
(1) increased risk of vandalism and crime in/around the park
(2) traffic congestion in/around the park
(3) noise pollution
(4) increase in anti-social behaviour
(5) litter
(6) the potential for damage of green space
(7) and loss of amenity to the public
Among the objectors was Lark Lane Neighbourhood Association who fear big scale events in the park will encourage crime and disorder.
Its chairman, Sandra Warren, said: “Residents already suffer from late night revellers leaving one of the 18 licensed premises on Lark Lane,” adding licenses should be considered on an event-by-event basis, rather than an annual cover.
Judicial review
Other objectors included Lib Dem councillors Elaine Allen and Tina Gould, and the two Green Party councillors, John Coyne Sarah Jennings.
Whether the grant of the licence is the end of the matter remains to be seen. One local objector has threatened to consider a judicial review to block it.
A number of events are held in the park, the most recent being Africa Oye, but until now licences have been applied for on an individual basis.
One worry is a permanent licence will lead to more frequent events. But a report to the licensing committee spelled out the controls and conditions that will be in place to ensure events run smoothly.
