PLANS to bring a huge dance music festival to Stratford Armouries have been turned down.
A proposal was put to hold the ‘Balter Festival’ at the greenfield site on Gospel Oak Lane in Snitterfield.
But the festival – which admits 2,500 revellers over the age of 18 – has been refused by Stratford District Council’s licensing panel.
Organisers were looking to serve alcohol and play dance music from hip hop and drum and bass until the early hours of the morning.
Previous events at other locations around the country have been dubbed a ‘jungle rave’.
The council’s licensing panel said: “If the applicants were granted a licence, they would not promote the licensing objectives of the prevention of crime and disorder, public safety and the prevention of public nuisance.
“Furthermore, the licensing panel took the view that there was a significant risk of harm to the safety of attendees at the festival, either because of the activities described to have previously taken place or because of illegal drug and excessive alcohol consumption.
“The panel also had concerns with tickets being purchased online by those under the age of 18.”
