Legal issues about event on agricultural land

Hi all

Does anyone here know anything about the legal aspects of holding an event on land classified as agricultural?

I have a plot of land in the countryside, which unfortunately for me is within a national park boundary. That means my every move is potentially subject to scrutiny, as we don't want people ruining the countryside, which is fair enough. I'm mulling over the idea of holding some sort of mini festival style event there next summer, nothing like Glastonbury or anything, just a small low key thing, but I don't want to upset either my neighbours or the national park authority. At this stage its just the first hint of an idea, and may not happen even if it turns out I'm allowed to do it, but the trouble is I have no idea where to even begin looking when it comes to the legal aspects. I'm aware that I'd need to take out some sort of public liability insurance in case someone forgets its the countryside and scratches themselves on a thorn or gets their socks wet and decides to sue me, but that's where my knowledge ends when it comes to this sort of thing. Anyone got any ideas?

Cheers

 

Can of worms job!

You will probably need a licence. If there are going to be less than 200 people there and it's going to last less than three days you may get away with a TEN (temporary event notification) where you tell the local authority and police what you want to do and, unless the police think there's a serious likelihood of public disorder, you're allowed to hold your event. The details for these will be on your local authority's website.

If it's a bigger event you will need a specific licence from the local authority. They will specific conditions. (e.g. toilet facilities, times when you're allowed to make a noise, total numbers and so on) This will cost and again details will be on their website.

I do not know whether being in a national park makes any difference. For the TEN I suspect not, but there are likely to be more stringent conditions if it's a larger event.

Hope that's of some help.

Steve

 

Thanks for that Steve, its really useful. At least I now have a starting point to look at, the TEN thing you mentioned, which sounds suitable as my land isn't big, so a limit of 200 people would be fine I reckon, and the event I have in mind will last two days at the most. I'll do some research into the TEN, and see what the national park have to say.

 

hi clueless other than getting permission to hold event from council i assume, the neighbours issue its best to see each neighbour and ask them iff its ok by them to hold event and invite them, wish i lived closer i would love to attend , good luck and hope you get permission

 

Good idea Rosa. I've met the farmer from one side of my land, and I reckon he'd be fine with it as long as it doesn't coincide with shooting season (he seems more interested in the pheasant shoot than actually farming). The farm to the other side of my land is a sheep farm owned by an elderly widow since the old man passed away. I've never met her or any of her staff yet (assuming she has staff, I can't imagine an elderly lady managing a full farm with lots of livestock by herself). I guess I should pluck up the courage to go and see her. In both cases though there houses are well alway from my land boundaries, so I can't imagine noise being an issue, especially as I think I'd make a rule that there would be no amplified music.

If it happens, I'll let you know. My land isn't that far from Cullercoats, you're only looking at about 50 miles