Magistrates have dismissed an appeal by the organisers of a north Pembrokeshire festival against the loss of their licences.
Haverfordwest Magistrates Court formally dismissed an appeal by the organisers of the Celtic Blue Rock Festival on Monday.
Festival organisers had earlier withdrawn their appeal and cancelled this year’s festival after their their three licences were revoked by Pembrokeshire County Council’s licensing sub-committee.
As a result there is no longer a licence in being for Celtic Blue Rock.
Anyone who bought tickets for the event, which was due to be held between August 6th and 8th near Llanfrynach, is being advised to contact the organisers directly.
Pembrokeshire County Council is advising that anyone attending the venue and carrying out licensable activities during the weekend starting the 6th August – or any other weekend – will be doing so without the relevant authorizations, rendering themselves liable to arrest and the event will be dealt with as an illegal rave.
Dyfed Powys Police and Pembrokeshire County Council will instigate the procedure to deal with illegal raves. This involves working closely with the National Trust, the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park Authority, farming unions and local landowners in blocking accesses and being vigilant.
Mark Elliott, Pembrokeshire County Council’s Head of Public Protection said if any event went ahead the Council – along with other agencies – would quickly put into place the necessary enforcement and practical measures to stop it happening.
“Illegal events are not just about loud music and the significant distress to the community,” he said. “We know from experience that they draw individuals who are looking to exploit young persons in an unsafe environment.
“With August historically being the time of year when these events take place, we would urge all landowners in this part of the County and the neighbouring counties of Ceredigion and Carmarthenshire to be extra vigilant and report immediately any suspicious activity to the Police or the County Council’s Public Protection Division.
“We rely on the eyes and ears of the local communities in telling us what is happening in their area.”
Police Inspector Alan Millichip of Pembroke Dock police station said their main concern was public safety.
“Unlicensed events, by their nature, do not have the necessary safety features in place,” he said.
“If the worst should happen we would need to be able to get emergency services to the scene and in many coastal locations this would prove difficult.
“Together with the local authority and partner agencies, we will do all that we can to ensure that visitors to, and residents of, Pembrokeshire are able to enjoy the peace and tranquillity for which the County is renowned.”
Pembrokeshire County Councils Licensing Sub – Committee heard a review against the premises licence holder for Celtic Blue Rock on the 17th May 2010. A decision was made by the Licensing Sub Committee to revoke all three licenses held by the festival organisers.
An appeal was lodged with the Magistrates Court by the festival organisers who later withdrew it. Haverfordwest Magistrates Court formally dismissed the appeal on Monday 19th July.
