Belfast City Council has voted against hosting large-scale music concerts and a food festival in Botanic Gardens, citing doubts about the event organisers’ legitimacy and fears of prolonged disruption to local residents and park users.
Councillors in Belfast have taken a decisive step regarding the organisation of significant public events in Botanic Gardens, voting against proposals for major music gigs and a ‘fire and food’ festival. The decision follows a contentious period marked by concerns over the legitimacy of the organising companies.
During a meeting on May 1, members from Sinn Féin and the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) collectively rejected plans for the ‘Botanic Summer Sessions,’ which aimed to host three music concerts at the end of June. These events, anticipated to draw around 5,000 attendees each night, were put forward by CRD Live, a company whose sole director is a teenager from North Down. At the time of the committee’s decision, CRD Live was under a compulsory strike-off order, indicating that Companies House had reasonable suspicions regarding the company’s operational status. Notably, this strike-off order was lifted just four days later, following the submission of required documentation to Companies House.
Despite the ongoing issues, tickets for one of the concerts, featuring the emerging artist Ryan McMullan, were made available online. McMullan promoted the event on his social media, and reports indicate that some customers purchased tickets, with one individual stating they spent £150 for tickets for themselves and their son.
The council’s full meeting ultimately opted against the events due to concerns over anticipated disruptions, which were projected to last over 35 days. This included time needed for setting up and dismantling infrastructure after the concerts.
Parallel to the music gigs, another proposal from a different company, JKS Events, sought to organise a 10-day ‘fire and food’ festival starting on July 17. This plan also faced pushback as it would disrupt the main lawn area from July 7 through to the festival’s conclusion. Very little public information is available about JKS Events, and it remains uncertain if it is the same company registered as a small management consultancy based in Ipswich, England.
Council spokespersons highlighted that due diligence procedures were not adequately followed prior to the committee’s initial support for the events. As a result, questions regarding business legitimacy and operational history have been raised surrounding both CRD Live and JKS Events.
The council’s decision appears to reflect concerns about the feasibility and the impact on local residents and park users, underscoring the complexities involved in organising large public gatherings in urban parks.
Source: Noah Wire Services
- https://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/entertainment/bright-lights-event-at-belfasts-botanic-gardens-was-hellish-for-residents/41738506.html – This article discusses residents’ complaints about the Bright Lights event in Botanic Gardens, highlighting issues such as lack of consultation, noise disturbances, and the council’s loss of trust among local residents.
- https://www.belfastlive.co.uk/news/belfast-news/belfast-bright-lights-festival-cancelled-24439412 – This piece reports on the cancellation of the Bright Lights festival by Belfast City Council after widespread criticism regarding its negative impact on local neighborhoods and park users.
- https://www.inkl.com/news/belfast-council-told-it-has-lost-the-trust-of-botanic-residents-over-bright-lights-park-event – This article details residents’ testimonies expressing their dissatisfaction with the Bright Lights event, citing issues like unexpected park closures and inadequate consultation.
- https://www.irishnews.com/arts/music/2023/05/26/news/live_at_botanic_gardens_2023_everything_you_need_to_know-3304622/ – This article provides information about the Live at Botanic Gardens 2023 concert series, including dates and headliners, highlighting the park’s role in hosting significant public events.
- https://www.irishnews.com/news/northern-ireland/live-at-botanic-gardens-concerts-cancelled-without-explanation-as-gigs-rescheduled-for-indoor-venues-5P7SHOH4RBARTOAYSNGSXJCALU/ – This piece reports on the cancellation and rescheduling of Live at Botanic Gardens concerts, indicating challenges in organizing large public gatherings in the park.
- https://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/northern-ireland/belfast-councillors-bow-to-pressure-and-reverse-decision-over-winter-wonderland/a176676386.html – This article discusses the reversal of a decision to host a winter event at Botanic Gardens, reflecting the council’s responsiveness to public concerns about park events.
- https://www.irishnews.com/news/northern-ireland/councillors-backed-plans-for-major-music-gigs-in-belfast-proposed-by-company-then-under-strike-off-threat-and-headed-by-teenager-JGS6EWPOPFFCLI77XLI3GIQRNE/ – Please view link – unable to able to access data
Noah Fact Check Pro
The draft above was created using the information available at the time the story first
emerged. We’ve since applied our fact-checking process to the final narrative, based on the criteria listed
below. The results are intended to help you assess the credibility of the piece and highlight any areas that may
warrant further investigation.
Freshness check
Score:
10
Notes:
The narrative references a recent council meeting on May 1 and ongoing issues, indicating the content is up-to-date and relevant.
Quotes check
Score:
8
Notes:
There are no direct quotes in the narrative to verify against online sources, which could indicate original reporting or a lack of direct quotes.
Source reliability
Score:
8
Notes:
The narrative originates from the Irish News, a reputable regional publication, but lacks specific named sources for quotes or statements.
Plausability check
Score:
9
Notes:
The claims about council decisions and business operations are plausible and align with typical governance and event planning issues.
Overall assessment
Verdict (FAIL, OPEN, PASS): PASS
Confidence (LOW, MEDIUM, HIGH): HIGH
Summary:
The narrative is well-supported by recent events and decisions made by the council, with no clear indicators of misinformation. The lack of direct quotes and specific named sources is noted, but does not detract from the overall reliability.
