Shepley Spring Festival goes ahead after alcohol licence extended

May 12 2009 by John Knighton, Huddersfield Daily Examiner

A POPULAR music festival will go ahead this weekend after concerns it might be cancelled.

Shepley Cricket Club’s committee asked Kirklees Council to extend its alcohol licence until 4am so it could host the Shepley Spring festival.

But the licence was opposed by nearby home owners who said the club’s events were already disruptive.

At a licensing panel at Huddersfield Town Hall yesterday, the residents made it clear they were not against the folk festival and did not want to jeopardise it going ahead this weekend.

The Marsh Lane home owners were worried the cricket club would be open until 4am regularly, disturbing their sleep and causing antisocial behaviour in the rural area.

Mrs Cynthia Walker said in a letter: “Drinking until four in the morning should be sited near town where there is adequate police presence to deal with the outcome of people being intoxicated, making noise, driving their cars, and perhaps causing vandalism.”

Jeffrey Beaumont, another resident, said at the meeting: “I believe in live and let live, I’ve lived at the side of the cricket club for almost 50 years and have had no dispute with them before this.”

He said he hoped a compromise could be reached between the two parties.