The Lichfield District Council has decided to refuse a temporary event notice for a festival due to concerns about noise nuisance.

URL: https://democracy.lichfielddc.gov.uk/ieDecisionDetails.aspx?ID=852

Decision Maker:

Outcome:

Is Key Decision?: No

Is Callable In?: No

Purpose:

Content: LICENSING ACT 2003   Decisions& Reasonsof LichfieldDistrict Council LicensingSub CommitteeHearing on12th August 2026     Applicationfor determination of objection to a temporary event notice under the licensing act 2003 for Wibbly Woods       Councillors - CouncillorBrian yeats(Chair) Councillor John Hill    Councillor Diane Evans   Governance Advisor   -   Shanade Cartwright Legal Advisorto Committee - Jamie Porter Lead LicensingOfficer - Tracy Caddy Objector - Angelique Wright Applicant - Lucas Campbell-Butcher   Other officers in attendance - Christine Lewis Elections and Democratic Manager         Decision and reason:   The Sub-committee sat to hear an application for a Temporary Event Notice for a festival known as Wibbly Woods scheduled to take place between 3 and 7 September 2026 at Fradley Woods between 16:00 and 00:00 on Thursday, 11:00 and 04:00 Friday and Saturday, 11:00 and 00:00 on Sunday.    An objection was received from the Environmental Health Department for the Council, in relation to the licensing objective – the prevention of public nuisance over concerns about noise nuisance being created by the event.   The Sub-committee had to decide whether it was appropriate to issue a counter notice pursuant to S105(2)(b) of the Licensing Act 2003 to the premises user.  The Sub-committee was mindful that it was not able to impose conditions on the Notice and its decision was effectively a ‘yes’ or a ‘no’ to the event taking place.   In making its decision the Sub-Committee had regard to the Licensing Act 2003, the Section 182 Statutory Guidance as well as its own statement of licensing policy.   It heard from the applicants that each year the organisers try to learn from the previous event and make adjustments in order to control the noise nuisance.   The organisers proposed that this year they would employ an ‘acoustician’ to assist in dynamically managing the sound levels at the festival. The applicant also suggested that there may have been a number of complaints received regarding previous events which were not valid and, in any event, the number of complaints received were very few in the context of the total number of residents in the area.   The Committee heard from the Environmental Health Officer for the Council that the event in 2025 had received 230 noise complaints from people living as far away as 2.85 miles from the Premises. The Committee further heard that legal action for the 2025 event was being considered by the Council against the applicant for carrying on the playing of music until 02:00, despite only being permitted to do so until 23:00. The Environmental Health Officer informed the Committee that no legal action was taken on the basis the applicant agreeing not to apply for future events within Lichfield District. Despite this, the applicant is now making a further application for an event within Lichfield District.   The Sub-committee gave significant weight to the Environmental Health officers concerns and noted that they are the experts and the responsible authority in this field. The Committee also considered that the applicant has been saying, continually, that things will be different for the next event but – despite this – the complaints have not only not stopped, but have increased.   The Sub-committee considered the Section 182 Guidance particularly paragraph 7.35 relating to the scale, location and timing of the event and concerns regarding public nuisance arising from noise levels.   Accordingly the sub-committee considered that to permit the event to take place would constitute a risk of undermining the licensing objective for the prevention of public nuisance.  Despite the case that the applicant put forward in support of the event, the Committee considered it appropriate to issue a counternotice – in essence it refuses the temporary event notice application.   The parties are reminded of their right to appeal to the magistrates court within 21 days of this decision.   12:12 – Meeting ended.   Right of Appeal   All parties are reminded that under the provisions contained within Schedule 5 of the Licensing Act 2003, there is the right of appeal against the decision of the Licensing Authority to the Magistrates Court, such an appeal is to be made within twenty-one days of the date of the notification of the decision.   Dated 12th August 2026     Signed CouncillorBrian Yeates (Chair)  

Date of Decision: August 12, 2026