Doncaster council reject plans for Yorkshire Wildlife Park to host music events for up to 15,000 people

The proposals were turned down by the council's licencing committee this afternoon, after residents had raised concerns that the Yorkshire Wildlife Park’s plan would be too noisy and cause traffic jams.

Chairman of the licensing committee, Coun Ken Keegan said: “We have decided to refuse the application.

“Although we recognise that traffic is not a licensing matter we have concerns about how the applicant deals with dispersal of high volumes of vehicles. There is no provision for

customers bringing in their own alcohol.

“It is in the middle of a residential area and the objectives proposed will not meet the licensing objectives for prevention of public nuisance.”

Commenting after the meeting, resident Henry Curtis said: “We are absolutely delighted that it’s been refused.

“This will put our minds at rest until the next time.”

The Wildlife Park unsuccessfully sought permission for a similar license last year, which requested permission to host music events with a capacity of up to 10,000.

This was refused and similarly sparked complaints from residents.

Graeme Cushion representing the Yorkshire Wildlife Park told the meeting: “We have taken those concerns on board, that is why we have decided to formally remove our request for alcohol to be served, that is why we have requested that events are finished by 10pm at the very latest, although it’s more likely to be 9.30.

“That is why we have moved the location, and why we have reduced the maximum amount of dates to 12 a year and with events lasting for a maximum of two hours.

“This isn’t going to be a music festival, it’s going to be bolt-on entertainment at the end of the day for people who are already in the park.

“The type of acts we’re looking at are Abba tribute acts and Take That tribute acts.”

Around 20 residents attended the meeting to voice their concerns, which mainly centred around noise levels and traffic.

One stated: “The infrastructure around the park can’t cope with the current levels of traffic, let alone larger numbers.”

Another added: “To suggest that a music venue that will have a larger capacity than The Motorpoint, which has 13,500, should be put between two residential areas is just ridiculous.

“We’ve got the Keepmoat, The Dome and The Racecourse.

“We don’t need anything else. Leave it as a Wildlife Park.”

The Branton based facility already holds two premises licences, one, granted in 2009, which covers the restaurant and a second, granted last year covers the whole site including all indoor and outdoor areas.