BULLDOG BASH GETS GO-AHEAD
By Emma Rowley, PA
A major motorcycling festival will go ahead despite police warning that they cannot guarantee public safety.
A committee in Stratford-upon-Avon, Warks, today granted a licence to hold the Bulldog Bash 2008, although police had submitted a formal objection to the organisers’ application.
On August 12 last year, Hells Angel member Gerry Tobin was shot dead on the M40 after leaving the long-running motorcycling event.
Organisers were granted an annual licence for the event, held in Long Marston, Warwickshire, to cover this year’s planned August festival and last until 2018.
Members of the public applauded as the decision was announced.
Councillor Gillian Roache, chair of the licensing committee, told the hearing: "We are of the view that we are dealing with licensed premises and licensable activities and their immediate vicinity."
She said that the tragic death of Mr Tobin did not occur in the immediate vicinity of licensed premises.
The Bulldog Bash licence was granted subject to conditions including random searches on the site, the use of metal detectors, and set numbers of accredited security staff at entrances on the site.
John "Bilbo" Britt, licensee for the event, said he was "relieved and pleased" by the decision.
He said: "I thought the police evidence against us was hysterical but we are very willing to work with police in the future.
"I can understand their problems and we will work very hard with them to make this event as safe as we possibly can."
He said the conditions attached to the licence will cost organisers "extra money" but were "common sense".
Explaining the committee's decision afterwards, Cllr Roache said: ``What goes on miles away from the premises is not the responsibility of people running operations on the site.
"The licensee is not responsible for activities beyond the perimeter of the premises - that’s a police responsibility."
Warwickshire Police said they accepted Stratford District Council’s decision.
A spokeswoman said: "Over the next few months we will be working with event organisers and our local partners to put in place a policing plan for the event."
Earlier Inspector David Patterson, of the operations planning unit, said: "The view of the police is that the only safe way to ensure public safety is that the event shouldn’t go ahead at all."
He said that to police this year’s Bulldog Bash - the 22nd - in an appropriate way would cost £1,940,000.
The festival, which the committee heard is associated with the Hells Angels motorcycling group, boasts on its website of drag racing, wrestling, live bands and a "topless bike wash".
In 2001 a Canadian man survived after being shot three times in the leg after leaving the Bulldog Bash, while in 1998 the festival faced a bomb threat.
The committee also heard that organisers of another motorcycling event, the Rock and Blues Custom Show in Derbyshire, cancelled this year’s festival after police voiced concerns.
Yesterday it was announced the Welsh National Motorcycle Show, due to take place later this month, has also been cancelled amid police fears of a "significant risk of violence".
A spokeswoman for Harley Davidson motorbikes said this evening the brand’s own official "Hog" events will go ahead as planned.
Several men are due to stand trial in October for the murder of Mr Tobin, the panel heard during the two-day hearing.
In a statement, Warwickshire Police’s assistant chief constable, Bill Holland, said: "Warwickshire Police lodged an objection to a licence being granted for Bulldog Bash because we firmly believe that public safety could be compromised by this event.
"Warwickshire Police has a duty of care to the public and the force will give the council’s decision careful consideration before commenting further."
end
Just heard that on the local news Wills so I wonder if the Rock and Blues may be back on now then
The Bulldog Bash licence was granted subject to conditions including random searches on the site, the use of metal detectors, and set numbers of accredited security staff at entrances on the site.
Wonder how many bikers will set of the metal detectors with the metal work in their bodies from bike accidents, mine set the alarm off at the courts.
Hold the celebrations as the police are thinking about appealing...
1 POLICE Bash
POLICE CONSIDER APPEAL OVER BULLDOG BASH GO-AHEAD
By Emma Rowley and Theo Usherwood, PA
Police said today they were seeking legal advice on whether to appeal against a decision by a council to give the green light to a major motorcycling event.
Warwickshire Police said they were opposed to Stratford District Council’s decision to grant the organisers of the Bulldog Bash 2008 a licence.
Police formally objected to the organisers’ application, saying that they felt the event could compromise public safety.
But a committee in Stratford-upon-Avon, Warks, yesterday granted it a licence.
Today, Warwickshire Police said they would be seeking legal advice.
In a statement, the force said: "Warwickshire Police will be seeking legal advice with a view to considering an appeal against Stratford District Council’s decision to grant a licence for the Bulldog Bash.
"Warwickshire Police originally lodged an objection to a licence being granted because the force firmly believes that public safety could be compromised by this event."
and so it goes on and on
![Bulldog Bash, GOOD news - Forums [Biker Match]](/images/backgrounds/strips/8mobileLQ.jpg)
![Bulldog Bash, GOOD news - Forums [Biker Match]](/images/backgrounds/strips/8desktopLQ.jpg)
