The organisers of a music festival scrapped because of police fears of gang violence following the death of a Hells Angel will make a second attempt to hold the event in Derbyshire.
Police believe the event would offer the most "significant opportunity for high-profile retaliation" for the death of Gerard Tobin, a Hells Angel who was shot dead on the M40 last August.
But One Percent Entertainments announced yesterday that it was going to re-apply for a licence for the Rock and Blues Custom Show.
Previously, they wanted to switch the venue of the annual event from Pentrich to Catton Hall, in Walton-on-Trent, over flooding fears.
Derbyshire police objected and the organisers withdrew their application to South Derbyshire District Council at the 11th hour.
Now they are planning to ask Amber Valley Borough Council to allow it to return it to its former home at Coney Grey Showground, in Pentrich.
But Derbyshire police say they will object on the same grounds as before.
Simon Covell, managing director of One Percent Entertainments, said they were making a second attempt after a similar event called the Bulldog Bash, in Warwickshire, was given the go-ahead despite concerns from local police.
He said: "The show is in its 25th year and we really want it to go ahead this year.
"We are resubmitting the licence due to the Bulldog Bash being granted one. It was getting a similar sort of reaction from the police as we were getting. Our lawyers went along to the licence hearing and it seemed that there was no actual evidence or facts to back up why it shouldn't go ahead.
"The safety of the event has never been an issue, so we thought, rather than call it a day, we would move it back to Pentrich. We have had a lot of support from the locals and hopefully the police will sit down with us to work out a way it can go ahead."
When the first application was submitted, Derbyshire police said it feared members of the public could be killed or injured if rival biker gangs clashed.
They said the seven men charged with Mr Tobin's murder were believed to be members of the Outlaws Motorcycle Club and that the Rock and Blues Custom Show was "organised by or on behalf of the club" - a claim denied by One Percent Entertainments.
Because of this, the force feared gang violence could erupt at the event.
A spokesman for Derbyshire police said yesterday they would be opposing the application again once it had been lodged with the borough council.
He said: "We will be opposing the application on the same grounds as before.
"Our stance has not changed as we still have concerns which we pointed to last time they applied for a licence."
About 15,000 people are expected to attend the show, which is planned for July 24-27.
A spokeswoman for the borough council said it had not yet received an application.
Andy Moss, 40, of Main Road, said the return of the festival would be good news for Pentrich.
"It brings a lot of money into the area," he said.
"All the cafes, the shops, the pubs, everybody benefits from it. I've been there before and there have been no problems."
A Swanwick resident at the Dog Inn, in Main Road, last night agreed.
The woman said: "I've been three times and have never seen any trouble at all over the whole weekend."
original article
The organisers of a music festival scrapped because of police fears of gang violence following the death of a Hells Angel will make a second attempt to hold the event...
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