Councillors Decide Fate Of Seahaven Pride Festival

Councillors are set to weigh plans to hold a pride festival in Seaford, following objections from a group of local residents.

On Friday (August 27), a Lewes District Council licensing panel is set to decide on whether to grant a licence to the inaugural Seahaven Pride Festival, allowing it to move ahead the following Sunday (August 29).

The planned event, which organisers describe as a not-for-profit and family-friendly LGBT+ festival, would be held on the Martello Fields and include performances from tribute acts, musicians, drag artists and dancers.

There would also be a number of food concessions and bars selling soft drinks and alcohol. 

Both the live performances and the sale of alcohol require licensing approval, however objections have been raised by several local residents over the potential for noise disturbance and public disorder.

Objectors also argue the event would be ‘unsuitable’ for the town. 

In a joint objection, Rev Peter and Mrs Norma King said:

“We are very unhappy about this event going ahead instead of the usual Donkey Derby. 

“Seaford is a totally unsuitable place to hold a pride festival. The granting of this licence will introduce a very different type of event and atmosphere to what we are used to in Seaford. 

“In our opinion the town does not want or need this type of event. The residents of the town are quiet and peace-loving and many of them elderly. Most people who attend this type of event will not be local. 

“We are a quiet, peaceful town that welcomes visitors to the beach and cliffs, but we do not want events with alcohol and live music. It will be an unwelcome intrusion.” 

Other objectors also argue the festival – which is set to include performances from a local stage school as well as a variety of tribute acts – will not be ‘family friendly’ as the organisers say. 

Officers have advised the panel that this would not be a licensing consideration, however.

In a report to be considered by the panel, a council licensing officer said:

“The committee should be aware that they can only consider sections of the representations that address the licensing objectives. The five representations are relevant as they raise concerns about public nuisance and public disorder. 

“Members are entitled to ignore issues raised in all representations such as the nature of the event not being suitable for the area, trade being denied to local licensed premises, transport and parking issues and comparisons to other events. 

“The organisers of this event have not been involved in licensed activities in this area, comparisons [to other events] are therefore not valid.”

The hearing (which was called at relatively short notice) comes before the closure of the consultation period as the application was submitted on July 29. This means there would be only one day between the close of the consultation and the event itself. 

As a result of the speed of the application process, the organisers had not met with responsible authorities to agree licensing conditions prior to the publication of the hearing’s agenda.

If an agreement is reached (or further representations received) prior to the meeting these will be considered by panel in its decision-making.
The panel can also impose further conditions if it decides to grant the licence, however.

Unusually, the organisers have applied for a premises licence at Martello Fields rather than gaining permission through a Temporary Event Notice. 

This means the licence, if granted, would allow organisers to use the venue one day per year, as long as Sussex Police and Lewes District Council are given four months’ notice of the date in future years.

This licence (if approved as applied for) would allow live and recorded music from 9am to 9pm and the sale of alcohol 10am to 9pm.