THE organisers of a popular North Cornwall festival have applied to Cornwall Council seeking permission to be able to increase the capacity by 5,000 people.

ILOH HQ Ltd, organisers of the Rock Oyster Festival, which is held each year at Dinham House, St Minver, Cornwall, PL27 6RH has made the application to the licensing authority seeking to amend their existing premises licence which stipulates which licensable activities are permitted to take place.

As part of present licensing requirements it is required to take out a public notice detailing its proposals and how residents can make representations relating to it – a type of notice which has been threatened with removal by the UK Government as part of its proposed ‘licensing reforms’.

In the application, ILOH HQ Ltd is seeking to amend the maximum capacity at the event at any one time from 14,999 to 19,999 - a total which includes staff and performers.

It is also seeking to extend the number of hours across the days of the festival is running from its main stage.

At present, it is licensed to have performers on the Thursday of the event from 2pm until 11pm, 10am until 3am on Fridays and Saturdays and Sunday between 10am and midnight.

The main stage currently operates between 12pm and 11pm on Fridays, Saturday and Sundays, with the organisers seeking to amend the start time of the main stage to 11am.

It is seeking to amend the sound regime which stipulates a higher and lower level of decibels it is permitted to have.

It stated: “Higher level: Noise levels shall not exceed 85 dB LCeq, measured over the agreed assessment period at one metre from the façade of any off-site noise-sensitive premises.

“Lower level: Noise levels shall not exceed 70 dB LCeq, measured over the agreed assessment period at one metre from the façade of any off-site noise-sensitive premises.”

The deadline for applying to make a representation is April 16.

A responsible authority or other person wishing to make representations to this application may do so by writing to the Licensing Team, Cornwall Council, New County Hall, Truro TR1 3AY or email [email protected].

“It is an offence knowingly or recklessly to make a false statement in connection with this application, the maximum fine on summary conviction being £5000.”

More details can be found on the Public Notice Portal, using the postcode of the venue as the reference, namely PL27 6RH

Find out about planning applications that affect you by visiting the Public Notice Portal.