Boost for 'Sunset At Thor's Rock' festival as police withdraw objections (From Wirral Globe)

Boost for 'Sunset At Thor's Rock' festival as police withdraw objections

1:31pm Monday 23rd November 2009

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Organisers of a two-day music festival in West Wirral have been given a boost after police withdrew their objections.

An application to hold the "Sunset At Thor's Rock" next May Bank Holiday weekend will be studied by councillors this week.

The bid is also seeking permission to sell alcohol and "late night refreshments" for the concert which the organisers' website says will be "featuring international and local bands, live acts and superstar producers/DJs."

Wildlife experts had told police that noise caused by the concert will disturb a pair of nesting barn owls - an illegal act.

But after the applicants, local businessmen Gerard White and Andrew Carr, agreed to a list of recommended changes, police now say they have no further objections.

Officers originally made representations to Wirral Council that loud music could “recklessly disturb” a pair of regularly breeding barn owls in fields at White's Farm, Station Road, Thurstaston, which would be an offence under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981.

The new conditions rule that all music must be confined within four marquees and that lighting will be directed away from the owls' nesting sites.

Security fencing must be installed around the festival site and specifically around the perimeter of nearby property at Station Road.

However, there are still many local residents who object strongly to the concert.

More than 120 individual householders have written to the authority complaining about noise, nuisance and parking problems.

Two petitions, each with around 70 signatures, have been submitted and ward councillors have also lodged objections.

Irby Thurstaston & Pensby Amenities Society is one of the groups firmly opposed.

A posting on its "ITPAS" website says: "The festival will be based on the 'Wakestock' festival, which is held in Abersoch early July each year.

"There will be enormous disruption to villagers, church goers, visitors to the Country Park, Caravan Park and Yacht Club on what is historically one of the busiest weekends in the calendar.

"This will be coupled with potentially a week either side of the event which will be required to set up and dismantle the facilities.

"We also hear there are plans to bus thousands of festival goers to clubs in Liverpool after the licence period of each night/morning.

"This will entail a lot of buses accessing and exiting Thurstaston Village and surrounding area during the early hours and of course, those people will want to get back to their cars, tents at Thurstaston at 5am later that morning no doubt.

"There are countless other problems that will be caused by this application."

In support of the application, 36 representations have been received from residents and local businesses.

A representation has also been received by the council from Wirral Chamber of Commerce and Industry in support of the application.

The issue will come before Wirral Council licensing sub-committee this Friday, November 27, at 10am, at Wallasey Town Hall.

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