‘Sharp contrast’ between the controversial 'ladies only' Birmingham pool party vision and reality laid bare

Bikini-clad women, DJs and cocktails – this was the vision the organisers of a controversial ladies-only ‘pool party’ in Birmingham had in mind.

An eye-catching poster for the event, tied to a metal fence in the Newtown area, showed women dancing happily in a pool along with a list of MCs and DJs set to appear.

Those behind the plans said there would have been up to 450 attendees while a “maximum of 25 ladies” would have been allowed in the pool with water guns.

But just behind the poster lay the reality of the inner-city car park where the pool party was set to take place – a site which police described as “not in a fit state to stage a safe event of this nature”.

Pictures showed piles of clutter covering parts of the car park, which led to one police licensing officer commenting: “There’s a sharp contrast between the advertising picture and the reality behind the fence.”

“I don’t feel the site is in any way suitable at this time for hosting the proposed activity,” Mark Swallow, from West Midlands Police, also told a licensing committee.

“It would be dangerous as there are numerous hazards.”

Birmingham City Council licensing committee held a meeting to consider the plans after both police and Environmental Health officers opposed the proposed event for a car park at 30 Lower Tower Street.

“The activity being held is a pool party event,” the Temporary Event Notice (TEN) application read. “There will be guest DJs from within the UK.

“A changing room will be provided for safe, private and secure outfit change.”

The application said DJs would play recorded music to “coordinate the audience” while female security staff would also always be present to ensure safety.

It added there would be a “maximum of 25 ladies in the pool” with water guns.

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 previously.

Police licensing officer Swallow also wrote that the applicant “plans to use plain water for the pool”.

“The Codes of Practice for the Pool Water Treatment Advisory Group state that treated water should be used for pools to prevent the growth of bacteria and viruses which could have a harmful effect on public health,” he said.

Harry Bevington, from Environmental Health, also told the licensing meeting on May 28 that 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.

‘Very clear risk’

The individual behind the application told the meeting: “I’ve tried my best to figure out all the requirements and do everything that’s required.”

He said he was keeping certain requested information “for last” as he made sure the site was 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 also told those at the virtual meeting that the sound and equipment would be managed by a contractor and they were not using water treatment because of “allergy problems”, adding that people would not be in the pool for more than six hours.

But the licensing sub-committee decided to issue a counter notice to prevent the event from taking place.

The council’s decision notice read: “Having considered the submissions of West Midlands Police and Environmental Health, members determined that to allow the event to proceed at the premises was a very clear risk to the licensing objectives”.

These included prevention of public nuisance, public safety and the prevention of crime and disorder.

“Members were not confident the proposed event could run well due to the objectives not being met,” it added.