| Friday, 22 June 2007 | |
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MP's pressure forces Council to backtrack on entertainment licence for Dartford Heath Following pressure from Dartford MP, Dr Howard Stoate, Dartford Borough Council has announced today that it is to scrap its application for a premises licence for Dartford Heath.The application for a premises licence for the section of Dartford Heath bordered by Rochester Way, Denton Rd and Swan Lane had been submitted by the council in order to allow a series of council run fun days to be staged on the heath. Dr Stoate strongly objected to the application however, along with residents in West Dartford, arguing that it would have opened the door for the heath to be used for a whole range of privately run live music and dance events totally out of keeping with Dartford heath. Dr Stoate said; “I’m delighted that the council has finally seen sense and withdrawn this application, but I still can’t understand why they chose to apply for a premises licence in the first place: it shows the same lack of judgment that led the council to apply for a casino licence for Ebbsfleet last year.” “The council is under no obligation after all to apply for a premises licence. It can just as easily apply for ‘temporary events notices’ as and when the need arises. This would give it far more control over how and when the heath is used.” “By getting a premises licence, the council would effectively have given the green light for the heath to be used as a live music and dance venue by all manner of organisations. It would have made it extremely difficult for the council to turn down applications by private event organisers and touring entertainment providers who want to use the heath for live events – however inappropriate they were.” Having licensed the heath, the name of Dartford Heath would also have been added to a national register of licensed public spaces, which has been specifically set up to promote their availability as live entertainment venues. This register (available at www.culture.gov.uk) includes Central Park and Dartford Town Centre along with a whole host of established live entertainment venues such as Regents Park, Hyde Park, and Blackheath Common. Notes Dartford Borough Council’s premises licence application for Dartford Heath was for the ‘provision of regulated entertainment inclusive of live, recorded music, performances of dance and other similar description. Provision of entertainment facilities for making music, dancing and other entertainment of a similar description. From 09:00 to 22:00 Monday to Sunday. The DCMS has encouraged Local Authorities to think about licensing areas of public land under their stewardship – such as parks, market squares and racecourses – which are appropriate for use as entertainment venues. It has not compelled Local Authorities to do so however and leaves it up to them to decide which areas of public land are suitable for licensing in this fashion. |
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