Pool party event in Birmingham car park ‘would be dangerous’ – police warn

The individual behind the plans said the event on June 14 would feature “guest DJs” while a “maximum of 25 ladies” would be in the pool with water guns.

But their Temporary Event Notice (TEN) application, for a car park at 30 Lower Tower Street in Newtown, Birmingham has recently sparked concern.

“The activity being held is a pool party event,” the notice read. “There will be guest DJs from within the UK.

“Only ladies will be allowed in the pool for safety reasons and a changing room will be provided for safe, private and secure outfit change.”

It said DJs would be playing recorded music to “coordinate the audience” while female security would also always be present to ensure safety.

But West Midlands Police objected to the application, saying it had requested information from the applicant to ensure the event was safe and promoted the licensing objectives.

“To date adequate responses have not been received,” the force’s licensing team said.

Mark Swallow, police licensing officer, also said the car park site was “not in a fit state to stage a safe event of this nature”.

“I don’t feel that the site is in any way suitable at this time for hosting the proposed activity,” he told a licensing meeting this week. “It would be dangerous as there are numerous hazards.

“It would also take a great deal of work to change this into a suitable site and there is no indication that the applicant has the means or inclination to do that.”

One picture, submitted by the police, shows a poster advertising the ‘18+ pool party’, which has been tied to the fence of the car park.

“There’s a sharp contrast between the advertising picture and the reality behind the fence,” Mr Swallow added.

Meanwhile Harry Bevington from Environmental Health told the meeting he was concerned by potential “noise break-out” at the outdoor event.

“The applicant proposes a pool party with DJs and amplified music in an open-air private car park […] with up to 450 attendees,” he said.

The individual behind the application also attended the virtual meeting on May 28 and said: “I’m using the car park for a temporary event – I applied for permission to use the space from 12pm until 9pm.

“I’ve tried my best to figure out all the requirements and do everything that’s required.”

He went on to say that he is keeping certain requested information “for last” as he makes sure the site is suitable to host the event.

“I need the place clean first,” he said. “I’ve spoken to the owner of the place and he’s assured he’s cleaning the place – I was there myself yesterday to see the progress.”

The applicant continued that the sound and equipment would be managed by a contractor.

“There will be four mobile toilets provided, two for males and another two for ladies at opposite ends of the venue,” the TEN application added. “There will be off-the-shelf cocktails and soft drinks.”

The city council said no actual permission was required to carry out a licensable activity on a temporary basis.

An applicant must merely give notice of their intentions to operate a licensable activity to the relevant authority.

“However, the police or local authority exercising environmental health functions may intervene to prevent such an event taking place or agree a modification of the proposed arrangements,” it said.

“Their intervention may in some cases result in the licensing authority imposing conditions on a TEN.

“Where a TEN is submitted, the licensing authority must consider the objection(s) at a hearing before a counter notice or a notice including a statement of conditions can be issued.”

The parties involved will be notified of the licensing sub-committee’s decision within five working days.