HOMEOWNERS are delighted plans to allow live entertainment attracting up to 3,000 spectators at Foots Cray Meadows have been thrown out by councillors.

Bexley Council's licensing sub-committee last Wednesday rejected the application from the council’s parks and open spaces team to hold outdoor events, after more than 30 objections.

The kind of events proposed included family fun days, live music, drama and boxing.

Councillors sided with objector's concerns over parking, noise and the fact the area is listed by English Heritage as a historic park.

North Cray Residents Association Chairman, David Cook, said: “Members of our association and the many other residents of the area who attended the meeting were overjoyed at the decision of the licensing sub-committee to refuse to grant a premises licence for Foots Cray Meadows.

“This welcome decision ends months of worry on the part of local residents about the harm such large events would cause to this listed open space and its wildlife, and the nuisance from noise and the probable parking on local roads were the suggested arrangements at Cleeve Park School not to materialise."

Although the initial application outlined that Cleeve Park School would provide car parking for spectators, it was revealed their agreement was only for the Shakespeare in the Park event due to be held next August.

Objector Ian Collins, aged 69, who lives in Riverside Road, said: “There are parking problems here as it is - people can’t even park on their own driveway.

“I was delighted with the decision they reached, the whole thing I thought was a disgrace.”

Had the licence been granted, unlimited private and commercial events could have taken place on the meadows throughout the year.

A spokesman from the Bexley Council parks and open spaces team said: “The applicant accepts the decision of the Council’s Licensing Sub-Committee and will not appeal the decision.”

Premises licences are already in place at locations including Danson Park, Lesnes Abbey and Sidcup Place and the council state in planning documents “there has not been one single complaint made” since the first licence was issued in 1996.