The event, Sounds Beautiful, is due to open on June 27th with 300 tickets sold and a similar number of artists and staff expected to be on site. One of the organisers said after Wednesday's licensing hearing that he was confident the event will still go ahead, even if the full application is rejected. Steve Norris said they would consider applying for a Temporary Event licence, if the full Premises Licence application fails; withdrawing the sale of alcohol, or even looking at another site.
"We are confident we will deliver the festival and await the result of the Council," said Mr Norris after the hearing. He had told the Dorchester licensing panel hearing that officials had not invited them to a crucial safety meeting and had often taken a long time to reply to queries because some council staff only worked part-time. Police Sergeant Gareth Gosling told a licensing hearing that while he believed the organisers were well-intentioned and wanted to deliver a safe and compliant event, the lack of detail in the application and some supporting papers, meant the force were not satisfied the event could meet all the licensing objectives, many of which relate to safety.
Senior Dorset Council environmental health officer Darren Naraine shared the Sergeant’s view of the organisers as being well-meaning but told councillors: “without the details we need in the Noise Management Plan we don’t have confidence the event can be run without causing public nuisance.” The festival has b.
