Latest news with #LichfieldDistrictCouncil
BBC News
14-07-2025
- Business
- BBC News
Council to run Lichfield Food Festival as organiser banned
A local authority has announced it will step in to run a food festival after it banned previous organisers from running events in the District Council rejected Cocker Hoop Creative Limited's application to hold the Lichfield Food Festival in August and that it would also reject any future applications from the follows the cancellation of other events run by the same company, including the Yorkshire Dales Food and Drink Festival.A spokesperson for the firm said it would be seeking legal advice regarding the council's decision to ban it from running events in the Lichfield district. It previously said it had organised the festival for 10 years, attracting thousands of visitors to the city. The council said any trader that had already booked and paid for a pitch at the Lichfield Summer Food Festival via Cocker Hoop Creative would be offered a free pitch at the authority bosses said they would also be speaking to retailers in the city centre about how they could be part of the said it would not be exactly the same as previous food festivals, but that they were committed to organising "a vibrant and enjoyable event".Council leader Doug Pullen said the spectacle was really important to residents and businesses."It brings thousands of people into the city and provides an opportunity to showcase Lichfield as a visitor destination," he said."We want to do all we can to support those traders who we know have already made significant financial outlays in preparation for the Lichfield Summer Food Festival."Traders were advised to contact the council regarding booking a pitch, and the authority said further details would be announced shortly. Follow BBC Stoke & Staffordshire on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram.
BBC News
09-07-2025
- Business
- BBC News
Lichfield Food Festival organiser banned from staging events
A festival organiser has been told it will not be able to hold events in part of Staffordshire following an investigation by a local District Council said it had rejected Cocker Hoop Creative Limited's application to hold the Lichfield Food Festival in August and that it would also reject any future applications from the authority said it was urgently considering other options to enable the event to go BBC has contacted Cocker Hoop Creative for a comment. A spokesperson for the authority said: "The council was deeply concerned by last week's news that Cocker Hoop Creative Limited had cancelled the Yorkshire Dales Food Festival less than 14 days before the event."They added that following the decision on Wednesday, any further applications by the company or associated firms to hold events on district council land or public spaces in the district would be rejected."The council understands how important the Lichfield Food Festival is to residents, businesses, traders and visitors," they said."As such the council is urgently considering alternative options to ensure that a food festival does go ahead in August."The authority promised further updates on its plans "as soon as possible". On Tuesday the organisers said they had paused trader applications while an "urgent internal review" was followed the cancellation of the Yorkshire Dales Food and Drink Festival, by the same organisers, which had been due to take place later this Arrowsmith, managing director of Cocker Hoop Creative, said there had been "too many challenges" to make the Yorkshire event work. Follow BBC Stoke & Staffordshire on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram.
BBC News
08-07-2025
- Business
- BBC News
Lichfield Food Festival under review as other events cancelled
The organisers of a food and drink festival in Staffordshire have paused trader applications while they undertake a "full investigation".The Lichfield Food and Drink Festival is scheduled to take place on 23-25 August, and the news follows the cancellation of the Yorkshire Dales Food and Drink Festival, by the same organisers, which had been due to take place later this Arrowsmith, managing director of Cocker Hoop Creative, said there had been "too many challenges" to make the Yorkshire event District Council is understood to be investigating the Staffordshire event, but has declined to comment. In a post on Facebook, Cocker Hoop Creative said: "Following our decision last week to cancel the Yorkshire Dales Food & Drink Festival we have taken the decision to suspend trader applications until we have undertaken a full investigation and Lichfield District Council have undertaken their own review - which we have agreed to and fully support."A spokesperson for the firm told the BBC: "We understand that following our decision to cancel the food festival in Skipton, Lichfield District Council is seeking reassurances that our plans for this year's Lichfield Food Festival are still achievable."We have organised this festival for nine years, and we are working closely with the council on our plans." Another event, due to take place at Bishton Hall and Gardens in September, has also been a post online, The Limelight Orchestra said it was unable to perform at the Disco Classical event "due to circumstances beyond our control, which relate to the arrangements made by the promoter, Cocker Hoop Creative Ltd."The orchestra said it hoped to bring the event to a nearby location next year, adding this would have no affiliation with Cocker Hoop the spokesperson for Cocker Hoop Creative denied this was the case, stating: "Cocker Hoop Creative is not the promoter of this event and is not involved in its delivery." Follow BBC Stoke & Staffordshire on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram.
The Independent
01-07-2025
- The Independent
Man accused of dumping 27 tonnes of waste in country lane appears in court
A man who allegedly dumped 27 tonnes of waste which blocked off access to homes and businesses on a country lane has appeared in court. Darren Sheen, 39, offered no indication of plea to a raft of charges faced by him and a business, Fusion Engineering Ltd, at Cannock Magistrates' Court on Tuesday. The charges relate to a huge mound of fly-tipped waste that appeared on the night of January 19 in Watery Lane on the outskirts of Lichfield in Staffordshire. Sheen, who wore a blue shirt and tie for the 10-minute hearing, of Grange Road in Uttoxeter, is accused of causing danger to road users, submitting controlled waste likely to cause pollution or harm to human health, driving a motor vehicle dangerously, failing without reasonable excuse to record data on a driver's card, wilful obstruction of a highway, failure to take measures when managing extractive waste to prevent contraventions and the escape of waste, handling, controlling or transferring controlled waste without taking reasonable measures and depositing rubbish within 15 feet of the centre of a highway. The business, of which Sheen appears to be listed as a director on Companies House, faces charges of submitting controlled waste likely to cause pollution or harm to human health, failing to take measures when managing extractive waste to prevent contraventions and the escape of waste, handling, controlling or transferring controlled waste without taking reasonable measures, wilful obstruction of a highway and depositing dung, compost or rubbish on a made-up carriageway. Lichfield District Council began an investigation after the waste, which measured over 20 metres long and two metres high, was dumped and contractors used a mechanical digger to clear the road and restore access to the two-lane route the next morning. Prosecutor Mark Jackson told the court it was their case that Sheen got into a Volvo HGV which had a trailer of untreated waste attached at the company's unit in Pasturefields Enterprise Park in Great Haywood and drove 23km to Watery Lane where he allegedly reversed the vehicle and dumped the waste. He said Sheen accepted in interview that he had driven the vehicle and had gone to the area, but that he had gone out that night to 'test the brakes' of the HGV. Mr Jackson requested that the case was serious enough to be sent to Stafford Crown Court, which was agreed by the panel of magistrates, with Sheen now due to face a further hearing on August 4.
North Wales Chronicle
01-07-2025
- North Wales Chronicle
Man accused of dumping 27 tonnes of waste in country lane appears in court
Darren Sheen, 39, offered no indication of plea to a raft of charges faced by him and a business, Fusion Engineering Ltd, at Cannock Magistrates' Court on Tuesday. The charges relate to a huge mound of fly-tipped waste that appeared on the night of January 19 in Watery Lane on the outskirts of Lichfield in Staffordshire. Sheen, who wore a blue shirt and tie for the 10-minute hearing, of Grange Road in Uttoxeter, is accused of causing danger to road users, submitting controlled waste likely to cause pollution or harm to human health, driving a motor vehicle dangerously, failing without reasonable excuse to record data on a driver's card, wilful obstruction of a highway, failure to take measures when managing extractive waste to prevent contraventions and the escape of waste, handling, controlling or transferring controlled waste without taking reasonable measures and depositing rubbish within 15 feet of the centre of a highway. The business, of which Sheen appears to be listed as a director on Companies House, faces charges of submitting controlled waste likely to cause pollution or harm to human health, failing to take measures when managing extractive waste to prevent contraventions and the escape of waste, handling, controlling or transferring controlled waste without taking reasonable measures, wilful obstruction of a highway and depositing dung, compost or rubbish on a made-up carriageway. Lichfield District Council began an investigation after the waste, which measured over 20 metres long and two metres high, was dumped and contractors used a mechanical digger to clear the road and restore access to the two-lane route the next morning. Prosecutor Mark Jackson told the court it was their case that Sheen got into a Volvo HGV which had a trailer of untreated waste attached at the company's unit in Pasturefields Enterprise Park in Great Haywood and drove 23km to Watery Lane where he allegedly reversed the vehicle and dumped the waste. He said Sheen accepted in interview that he had driven the vehicle and had gone to the area, but that he had gone out that night to 'test the brakes' of the HGV. Mr Jackson requested that the case was serious enough to be sent to Stafford Crown Court, which was agreed by the panel of magistrates, with Sheen now due to face a further hearing on August 4.
