Laois County Council finalising Electric Picnic licence conditions

Laois County Council is expected to make a decision on the Electric Picnic licence application this week. 

The Leinster Express/Laois Live understands Laois County Council planners have met with EP Republic Ltd, gardaí and other emergency agencies in recent months as part of the process. 

This year’s licence application is seeking permission for additional capacity bringing the crowds up to 80,000 a day, from 75,000 last year. The festival promoters are also seeking to open the camper van grounds earlier than usual to midday on Wednesday.   

It’s understood the planning application, which attracted a number of submissions during the public consultation phase, is now at an advanced stage with a decision expected in the coming week. 

The six submissions all held a common theme in that they each requested the council include a clause requiring the festival to support small local businesses and producers. 

One of the submissions was made by David Walsh-Kemmis, who runs Ballykilcavan Farm and Brewery and produces craft beer a few kilometres from the Electric Picnic site in Stradbally. 

“With a view to supporting small local businesses, I would like to see Laois County Council enforce a planning condition that the festival organisers must provide access to the festival for food and drink suppliers based in Laois, even if their product is in competition with a sponsor of the festival,” Mr Walsh-Kemmis stated in his submission. 

He acknowledged that the festival was not doing anything illegal but stated his belief that only planning requirements could force a change from the festival organisers. 

The Leinster Express/Laois Live understands that a team at Laois County Council are currently working to finalise the conditions of the licence which is expected to be granted before Saturday, June 21.