Police object to 150-person woodland music event

By Laura Linham 27th Aug 2026

Local News by Laura Linham 27th Aug 2026

Police objected to plans for a 150-person music, food and drink gathering near Shepton Mallet after raising concerns over fire safety, alcohol controls and noise.

The event at Lamyatt Lodge, Portway Hill, was planned to run from midday on Sunday, 6 September until 2 am the following morning.

The Applicant had submitted a Temporary Event Notice to Somerset Council seeking permission for the sale of alcohol, regulated entertainment and late-night refreshment. Council papers describe the event as a "small music, food & drink gathering" for up to 150 people, while confirming that Lamyatt Lodge does not currently hold a premises licence.

Avon and Somerset Police lodged a formal objection on the grounds of preventing crime and disorder, public safety and preventing public nuisance. Officers said they had requested further information covering the site layout, event management, risk assessments, stewarding, alcohol sales, emergency procedures, first aid, traffic, noise and how people would leave the site, but said the requested details had not been supplied.

Among the most specific concerns was the location of the proposed event within a woodland area during what police described as a period of continued dry weather. The objection said this created a heightened risk of fire spreading through vegetation or surrounding woodland, while adding that no fire risk assessment, emergency response procedure or evacuation arrangements had been provided.

Police also said they had not received details of age-verification measures, Challenge 25 arrangements, stewarding or event supervision. They said the lack of information meant they could not be satisfied that measures would be in place to prevent disorder, underage alcohol sales or alcohol-related anti-social behaviour.

Concerns were also raised over potential disturbance, with police saying no details had been provided about sound equipment, noise controls, parking, traffic management or dispersal arrangements.

A Somerset Council Licensing Sub-Committee had been due to consider the matter at a virtual hearing at 2.30 pm on Friday, 28 August. However, the council's meeting calendar now lists the Lamyatt Lodge hearing as cancelled,