‘States bureaucracy’ put paid to pub’s Lib Day street party

Trafalgar Inn at Northside entertains some 300 people each year on 9 May, closing the road to allow live music, bouncy castles, a BBQ and family games to take place.

Landlord Michael Druce wrote to parish constables, Traffic & Highway Services, Environmental Health & Pollution Regulation, the police and the Fire & Rescue Service to make sure his event could go ahead as usual.

While the constables, police and fire service were happy, he said the two States departments presented difficulties which meant the party had to be significantly cut back and was held inside the pub.

‘The traffic department wouldn’t allow the road to be closed for an extra day so that I could arrange for all the deliveries and equipment,’ said Mr Druce.

‘It’s a small, secondary road so what difference would it make anyway?

‘But the real challenge was all of the requirements from Environmental Health.’

He was required to write to all properties that might be noise-sensitive, record their address and plot their location on a map of the area, set up a complaint line that would be monitored by a competent person throughout the day, appoint a competent sound engineer who had to remain on site and be able to control the noise with a noise limiting device, and more.

Mr Druce said he had never had the police called because of a noise complaint in 22 years, nor had he been faced with so much red tape.

‘The area we use is literally outside the pub,’ he said.

‘We put a burger van to the right to block some of the wind, and a bouncy castle at the other end and in front of us in the back of the old Quayside building.

'Our neighbours on either side come out and support the day’s events and everyone always has a really enjoyable time.’

This was going to be his last year of hosting a street party, but feedback from people who have enjoyed them for years had made him reconsider.

Now, he does not know if the ‘unreasonable’ requirements from the States will ever allow him to hold one again, not only because sound engineers and monitoring a complaints line are an added expense.

Mr Druce said Liberation Day was always a good day financially for the pub and, after enduring two lockdowns, it was a much-needed way to help balance the books.

Any public event with loudspeakers or a PA system to play music, make speeches, have commentary or make any other amplified broadcast, needs to apply for a permit.

A spokeswoman from the Office of Environmental Health & Pollution Regulation said the controls required depend on the nature, timings and duration of the event.

This year, more than 80 PA permits have been issued.

‘We always endeavour to work with businesses, charities and event organisers to ensure that they are able to run events responsibly and with proportionate controls in place,’ they said.

‘In this regard we are pleased to note that many businesses were able to operate within the necessary parameters and many events took place around the island with PA permits to help islanders celebrate Liberation Day.’