Wakefield Eco Festival: Police oppose plans

Plans for an eco-festival in a West Yorkshire park should be rejected amid concerns about crime and disorder, police have said.

The four-day Northern Green Gathering will take place from August 15-18 in Newland Park, Wakefield.

Organizers have applied to the council for a temporary event notice (TEN) which includes serving alcohol and playing live and recorded music.

West Yorkshire Police said the festival proposal lacked a detailed event management plan and security information.

The festival is described as a “small, off-the-grid family gathering with a focus on environmental and sustainability issues.”

Its organizers have been approached for comment by the BBC.

If approved, the event will include talks on environmental issues, workshops, children’s activities, food vendors and healing practitioners.

The event will take place on two fields located in the center of the Newland Park estate near Altofts, with Newland Lane used as the public entrance.

Birkwood Road would be used as an entrance for crew, artists, traders and emergency vehicles.

Documents handed to the council claim that previous similar events have taken place in Ashbourne, in Derbyshire, and in Coningsby, Lincolnshire.

It describes the Newland Park gathering as a “scaled down version” of previous events “with a view to obtaining a full license and expanding the event next year”.

PC Toby Warden opposed the scheme on behalf of West Yorkshire Police.

In his letter of objection, he said: “The application would allow the premises to operate for the sale of alcohol, the provision of regulated entertainment and the provision of late night refreshments for a period of 50 hours without controls in place to promote licensing. objectives.

“The applicant states that there will be a maximum of 499 people at any one time, but no word on how it will be controlled.

PC Warden said the app lacked a detailed event management plan or security information.

The officer added: “It is the firm belief of West Yorkshire Police that granting this TEN would undermine the objective of crime and disorder.”