'Examples of drunken individuals walking through the estate' New festivals at farm to go ahead
The home of an annual dance music festival has been allowed to stage more events despite objections from people living nearby
Newsam Green Farm already hosts the Mint Festival, which draws thousands of people ot the site near Swillington each May.
More than 50 objections were raised after Mint Live Ltd applied to stage two more music events and a separate food festival each year.
Concerns were raised over noise, litter and traffic congestion.
But Leeds City Council granted a new premises licence after hearing that measures would be in place to prevent nuisance behaviour.
Chris Rees-Gay, representing Mint Live, told councillors: “The specialist team employed are highly experienced and have worked with Leeds City Council at this site previously.”
Mr Rees-Gay said there would be specialist security staff, an incident register and waste management measures in place.
He said live music from the 1970s-1990s would be played at the new events, with a maximum crowd capacity of 4,999 – half the size of the dance festival.
No electronic music would be played and the new events would be targeted at an older audience.
Councillor Mark Dobson, of Garforth and Swillington Independents, said hundreds of people were set to move into a new housing development, Skelton Lakes, being built nearby.
He said there had already been complaints over traffic and litter at the May festival.
Coun Dobson said: “There are examples of drunken individuals walking through the estate.
“I think there are ongoing concerns, not just for the safety of residents, but also people attending these events.”
He was also concerned that future concerts at Newsam Green might clash with events at nearby Temple Newsam Park, causing traffic chaos.
A licensing sub-committee was told advance notifications would be given ahead of future Newsam Green events.
Councillors granted the new licence, subject to conditions agreed with the local authority and West Yorkshire Police.
The organisers originally asked to hold an annual Bonfire Night event with a capacity of up to 9,999, but withdrew that part of the application.