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Ramsgate music festival bid at West Cliff boating pool to be decided by Thanet councillors

A bid for a new seafront music festival by draining a boating lake is set to be decided by councillors next week.

The application includes plans to empty the pool on the West Cliff Esplanade in Ramsgate for the weekend-long event in September.

If approved the outdoor music festival for 3,000 people would then take place on the August bank holiday weekend from 2020.

The Ramsgate Boating Pool on the West Cliff is under an application to host a music festival for 3,000 people (12975479)
The Ramsgate Boating Pool on the West Cliff is under an application to host a music festival for 3,000 people (12975479)

Thanet District Council's (TDC) licensing committee will meet on Tuesday to discuss the application.

Danny Potts is seeking to extend a premises license at The Boating Pool he currently runs on a lease from TDC, which owns the site.

Live and recorded music would be played from midday until 10pm under the application with alcohol served from 10am to 11.30pm in line with the existing license at the boating pool.

Mr Potts, who runs The Sea Lounge in Broadstairs which hosts several live music nights, is bidding to hold the first festival on September 14 and 15.

The application states: "The proposal is to have a music festival in 2019 on Saturday, September 14 and Sunday, September 15.

"The festival would start at noon and the music stop at 10pm. The opening hours would be from 11am for patrons to assemble and until 10.30pm to enable patrons to disperse.

"The event will be on a once a year basis and properly supervised with the appropriate security including park arrangements and of course and events and safety plan.

Thanet District Council offices (11661125)
Thanet District Council offices (11661125)

"A combination of the sound report and the events plan should prevent any nuisance to nearby occupiers."

But residents have queried the capacity levels for the festival, levels of noise, inadequate parking facilities and a lack of public transport for a major event.

One letter referred to the plans as a "frankly ridiculous application".

But TDC's estates department has raised objections to the plans saying they breach Mr Potts's lease agreement with the council.

A letter sent to Mr Potts in May has been submitted to the licensing committee in response to the application.

It reads: "We do not permit this event to happen as it is in breach of your lease and we reserve the right to oppose this and take further action."

The letter quotes part of the lease stating the boating pool can only be used as a boating pool with other open areas only used for activities approved by the landlord.

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