A BIKER festival will go ahead despite police concerns, following the murder of a Hell's Angel from Mottingham after last year's event.
Gerry Tobin, of Mottingham Road, was shot dead as he rode his motorbike along the M40 in Warwickshire on August 12 last year.
The 35-year-old mechanic, who worked at Warr's Harley-Davidson shop in Mottingham Road, was travelling with two other motorcyclists after leaving the Bulldog Bash - a four day festival - at Long Marston, Stratford-upon-Avon.
Yesterday Stratford-on-Avon district council agreed to grant a premises licence for this year's event from August 7 to August 10 - and for the following 9 years up to and including 2018.
This is despite police warnings that they will not be able to guarantee public safety at the event following Mr Tobin's murder.
Responding to the council's decision to grant a licence, 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."
Another rival biker festival in South Derbyshire will not go ahead after organisers withdrew their application for a premises license ahead of South Derbyshire district council's licensing sub-committee meeting on May 7.
Derbyshire constabulary wrote to the council about concerns that The Rock and Blues Custom Show - organised by the the Outlaws Motorcycle Club - could provide Hell's Angels with an opportunity to avenge the death of their friend.
The festival - due to be staged at Catton Park in South Derbyshire from July 24 to July 26 - will not go ahead.
Seven men charged with the murder of Mr Tobin will appear at Birmingham Crown Court on October 1.
9:54am Friday 16th May 2008
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CommentPosted by: Mick, Walderslade on 10:10am Fri 16 May 08
I cant see the logic of this, Police cant guarentee public safety so they want to stop the event. Can they guarentee the safety of someone walking the streets of many of our town centres at night (or day for that matter?) What next a dawn - dusk curfew to guarentee public safety ?
I cant see the logic of this, Police cant guarentee public safety so they want to stop the event. Can they guarentee the safety of someone walking the streets of many of our town centres at night (or day for that matter?) What next a dawn - dusk curfew to guarentee public safety ?
Posted by: Mick, Walderslade on 10:13am Fri 16 May 08
Maybe even a dusk-dawn curfew.
Maybe even a dusk-dawn curfew.
Posted by: kate, lewisham on 10:42am Fri 16 May 08
How long has it been going on? And because of one incident they try and stop it. There are kids getting stabbed on our streets they arent at festivals.
How long has it been going on? And because of one incident they try and stop it. There are kids getting stabbed on our streets they arent at festivals.
Posted by: Sunny, London on 10:57am Fri 16 May 08
It's John Travolta, again!!
It's John Travolta, again!!
Posted by: Dave, Bromley on 1:21pm Fri 16 May 08
[quote][bold]Sunny[/bold] wrote:
It's John Travolta, again!![/quote] What are you talking about Sunny?
Sunny wrote:
It's John Travolta, again!!
What are you talking about Sunny?
Posted by: Tail end charlie on 8:35pm Sat 17 May 08
It's the bikers that suffer......any excuse to stop us having a bit od fun...I don't condone what happened but why penalise everyone else...
It's the bikers that suffer......any excuse to stop us having a bit od fun...I don't condone what happened but why penalise everyone else...
Posted by: Sunny, London on 11:36am Wed 21 May 08
Dave, he looks so much like John Travolta
Dave, he looks so much like John Travolta
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