South Lanarkshire Council refuses festival licence
A music festival due to take place in Lanark this weekend has been cancelled amid a row between the organisers and the local authority.
The Red Hot Chilli Pipers were due to headline Bagrock in the Valley, at Castlebank Park, in the town on Sunday.
South Lanarkshire Council has refused to grant a licence for the festival.
The organisers said they were furious at the decision, and accused the council of “incredible arrogance”. They are now seeking an alternative venue.
The music event was expected to attract thousands of revellers and money raised from ticket sales was to be given to children’s charities and Yorkhill Hospital.
South Lanarkshire Council said it had been forced to refuse approval for the concert because event organiser, Jim Masters, had neither sought permission to use the park nor taken action to provide the necessary public safety licences and certificates.
A council spokesman said: “In any large scale public event, safety is paramount.
“It is regrettable that we have had to take this action.
“Mr Masters was given frequent opportunities to take action to meet the essential requirements for a large scale public event. He did not do so.”
But Arthur Grainger, who is on the organising committee for the Bagrock festival, told the BBC Scotland news website they had been unaware of any major issues and were shocked by the council’s decision.
He said: “We only heard about this through members of the public and press contacting us telling us that the event had been cancelled.”
“The council informed local retailers, the media, and even the bands involved, before letting us know they had refused our licence application.”
“The council has been incredibly arrogant and has acted in a dreadful way towards us.”
He said the music festival’s organiser Jim Masters had been responsible for putting on large-scale events in Lanark for more than 25 years.
He added: “The charities involved with this event are set to loose up to £25,000 each if it does not go ahead.
“We are currently in talks with local farmers and are determined to find an alternative venue.”
Source: BBC
Category: Event Industry News
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Hi – don’t know if anyone will get this but what about Wiston where the folk festival used to be held………..that was a great place………….hope this wee bit of info helps…………good luck to the organisers – if I can help in any way let me know on the above email or margokelly@hotmail.com