Police want to block plans for a trance festival near Cuffley.

Psyclowns Limited has plans for a “night-long celebration of dance, music and people” at The Quarry near Cuffley.

The organisers had hoped to run the event using a Temporary Event Notice (TEN) – on Saturday, September 16 between 8am and 11pm, for up to 499 people.

But Hertfordshire Constabulary has objected to the plans, which means Welwyn Hatfield Borough Council must consider whether the event can go ahead at a hearing, due on Wednesday, August 30.

Alex Kettle-Stupka, the police’s alcohol licensing officer in Welwyn Hatfield, wrote in a statement: “This event is being proposed under a TEN, but is a high-risk, a live music or festival event, requiring all the oversight, safety measures and strictures which are the very purpose of a premises licence.”

He said he would like to see more information about crowd control, search or entry policies and on-site security, which could be enforced with conditions using a different type of licence.

Mr Kettle-Stupka added: “The location poses potential logistical challenges for the emergency services and has no infrastructure except a dirt road or track.”

He also suggested the organisers would struggle to protect children from harm.

He wrote: “The event holds appeal for those under 18 and although I note that it is an ‘over 18’ event, I have seen no practical measures in place to ensure children are not able to enter or purchase alcohol.”

Welwyn Hatfield Borough Council’s environmental health team suggested the organisers may struggle to prevent public nuisance.

“There is currently a premises licence within the locality which allows a certain number of music events in any 12-month period,” an officer wrote.

“Any music event in the surrounding locations will be audible to residents, therefore it will have a cumulative impact.

“I appreciate this is a different event site compared to the site that has a premises licence, however, the sites are close enough that the impact on residents will be the same.”

‘Our main aim is to connect the likeminded ones’

Organisers have said their event, called Jungle Mayhem, will have a “minimalistic” set-up – with a canopy-covered small stage and DJ booth.

The line-up features Goan and psytrance artists including Dr Lu and DJ Xalala.

“Our main aim is to connect the likeminded ones through music and build a community with harmony,” the TEN form reads.

“We intend to promote and share Indian art and culture.

“The event intends to bring together people and communities that share a mutual passion and liking towards live electronic music.

“The event will showcase live DJ sets which will explore different music genres, including experimental trance, techno and Indian trance.”

It adds: “The event is a night-long celebration of dance music and people.”

Organisers have said they “won’t be using [a] heavy surround system so there will be no issues of heavy nuisance”.

They added: “We will appoint a sound engineer to further control the system, making sure we don’t affect the surroundings.”

Welwyn Hatfield Borough Council has recently ruled on a TEN for a proposed 499-person event called Bottlefest – also at The Quarry, in the countryside between Potters Bar and Cheshunt.

The authority refused the TEN, with a licensing sub-committee finding it “impossible to ignore the very serious and detailed concerns set out by the police in relation to public safety”.

A Bottlefest spokesperson said that decision, made on June 6, was “disheartening for all grassroots music events that look to showcase up-and-coming artists”.

Welwyn Hatfield Borough Council’s licensing sub-committee must rule on Jungle Mayhem separately and on its own merits.