Plans to relocate a festival from Guildford to Cuffley have been quashed by Welwyn Hatfield Borough Council's licensing sub-committee.

The organisers of Bottlefest must go back to the drawing board if they are to move their event from Dunsfold in Surrey, to Cuffley in Hertfordshire.

Welwyn Hatfield Borough Council has refused to let the team press ahead with their current Bottlefest IV plans using a Temporary Event Notice (TEN), after police raised public safety fears.

At a hearing on Tuesday, June 6, the Bottlefest team told a panel of councillors there is a “lack of support” for small businesses like theirs which work with grassroots musicians.

In announcing the panel’s decision to refuse a TEN, licensing sub-committee chair Cllr Julie Cragg urged organisers to continue speaking with local authorities to put together a new application, if they wish.

Speaking at the hearing, applicant Thomas Hollidge said a TEN was advertised to the team as the appropriate route – because they permit events for fewer than 500 punters. The event would have a maximum of 499 people.

He suggested running for one year under a TEN could be a “stepping stone” towards achieving a fuller premises licence for future years.

Mr Hollidge added: “We are willing to work with all relevant parties. We don’t see you as opposition who we are arguing against – we see this as a collaborative effort.

“We are willing to work to conditions.”

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He said: “We believe if you cannot approve this TEN on account of a lack of trust and accountability, this is the fault of a lack of an appropriate route for grassroots festivals of our size.

“We are young professionals attempting to get our business, which is also our passion, off the ground as a small startup.”

After the hearing, a Bottlefest spokesperson told the Local Democracy Reporting Service: “Small businesses, especially those from the hospitality sector, have suffered a huge hit from Covid.

“Today’s outcome is not only hugely disappointing for us, but disheartening for all grassroots music events that look to showcase up-and-coming artists.

“Bottlefest prides itself in being a small, community focused live music event that promotes young DJs and artists and brings together like-minded people.

“We will not let this dampen our efforts and will continue to champion the grassroots music scene and empower emerging talent through looking to work with alternative authorities.

“We did appreciate that the councillors have invited us to submit another licence application.”

Alex Kettle-Stupka, Hertfordshire Constabulary’s licensing officer for Welwyn and Hatfield, raised an objection to the event proposal, but said the fact it is a smaller event was in mind.

He said it is “potentially higher risk” than the events held in the next-door Colesdale Farm, which has a premises licence.

Mr Kettle-Stupka said: “It’s a smaller event, and that’s on my mind, but Colesdale Farm has an existing setup which is proven to work, they have accountability, they have coordinated professionals, they have experience, they have systems in place which have been honed over years of practice.

“And it’s no coincidence they have a high number of conditions.”

He added: “I want to acknowledge this is a new applicant proposing a new event in a new part of Colesdale Farm, that does not have a connection beyond that described with the existing festival venue at the farm.”

Mr Kettle-Stupka continued: “Perhaps my foremost concern is that the venue seeks to sell alcohol until 5am, having opened at 10am.

“Although I know they’ve said about modifying those hours, the application is for those hours.

“This is an extremely large span of hours – 19 out of 24 hours in fact.

“Longer hours of sales allows much larger quantities of alcohol to be consumed, which significantly increases risk.

“Even more concerningly is the 5am finish time, as crime and disorder risks escalate beyond 10pm and increase significantly past midnight.

“Indeed, I carefully weigh each application beyond midnight.”

Bottlefest organisers had said they would not plan on selling alcohol through the entire duration of their TEN.

Hertfordshire Constabulary’s objections also included fears for public safety, if festival-goers choose to leave the site at night and walk approximately one mile to Cuffley railway station along a countryside road in the dark.

Welwyn Hatfield Borough Council’s environmental health team also raised objections, partially on the grounds that officers must consider not just the volume of noise, but also the number of events in and around the proposed festival site – by the Bottlefest organisers and others.

Cllr Cragg said when announcing the decision: “The committee has decided that the application was well presented and thought out by the applicants.

“We do, however, find it impossible to ignore the very serious and detailed concerns set out by the police in relation to public safety, and to crime and disorder.

“On this occasion, therefore, the sub-committee has decided to reject the TEN application.”

Under pre-existing plans, the fourth instalment of Bottlefest is due to take place between Friday, September 1 and Sunday, September 3.

A description of their event on Facebook reads: “The previous three years of Bottlefest have seen a growth to a capacity which is no longer sustainable at our original site.

“The Quarry at Colesdale Farm is now home to Bottlefest.

“We invite every type of bottlejob to grace the dancefloors of our three stages, and give in to the pleasures of life.”