Concerns raised over mobile dance club licence

Councillors and people in Newquay have raised "massive concerns" about a bi-yearly dance club being held near a location hit by cliff collapses.

James Watson, who is director of mobile dance venue Skybar, has successfully applied to Cornwall Council for a permanent licence to hold two events a year at Tebulsue Farm, Watergate Bay, in Cornwall.

He told a licensing committee there had been no complaints since Skybar started using the site in 2018, and it would not mean the closure of any roads or footpaths.

Newquay Town Council said it had environmental concerns about the location being used, and one councillor said it was an "incredibly sensitive area".

Councillor Joanna Kenny, who represented the town, said: “One of the problems with this is it’s a permanent licence."

She added the area is "under a lot of pressure to do things like the Skybar, Boardmasters and all the rest of it.

"Our concern really is if we give this one a permanent licence – and we’ve got Boardmasters as a permanent – then the next one that comes along we can’t balance between them."

She said there had been no complaints about Skybar and said it was a "good organisation and it's done well", the Local Democracy Reporting Service said.

She was assured by a council solicitor there was a safety net that any licence would be reviewed if there was an impact locally.

Abby and Richard Paull, who have run the neighbouring Treloy Touring Park for more than 40 years, said they also had "numerous" concerns.

Mrs Paull told the committee: "Our overriding main concern is the noise.

"We are very close to the Skybar location, which is the same location as Boardmasters.

"It’s about making sure our campers are able to sleep, aren’t disturbed and we’re able to get on and run our business, so we’re asking for a level of protection."

Councillor John Fitter, who represents the area on Cornwall Council, said he had "massive concerns".

"This is a semi-rural location. It is the unfettered open space between Whipsiderry and Watergate Bay.

"We have a very dangerous situation relating to the cliffs at Whipsiderry and Watergate – we’ve had cliff falls between the two.

"I’m concerned that people who attend this site will attempt to negotiate their way back to Newquay by the cliff footpath."

Mr Watson said he could only be held responsible for what Skybar does, not Boardmasters and other events.

He said the entire site was fenced off which enclosed those attending for their own safety.

The committee agreed to grant the licence, noting that events had been held at the location for the past three years without the relevant authorities receiving any complaints.

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