A VILLAGE gala has been banned from having a pop-up bar after licensing chiefs raised concerns about children’s safety during the event.

The committee of Ormiston Gala applied for a licence to serve alcohol at the annual summer event in the hope of raising funds for future galas.

Committee chairperson Jordan Diggan told a virtual meeting of East Lothian Council's licensing board on Thursday that the bar was a charitable service, with half the profits going back to the gala.

But despite being given the go-ahead to serve alcohol at the family day out last year, the board refused to approve a licence for this summer.

Licensing standards officer Karen Harling objected to the licence, pointing out that most of the estimated 400 people who attended would be children.

And police backed her view, despite admitting that there had been no incidents involving alcohol or anti-social behaviour at the event recorded over the last seven years.

Inspector Dougie Wardell told the board: “There are certain galas in other areas where we would have more objections than Ormiston.”

READ MORE: Licensing chiefs urged to reject plans to serve alcohol at gala

The gala committee had applied for a licence to serve alcohol in Ormiston Park on the day of the gala on June 24 between 12.30pm and 5pm.

Mr Diggan told the board that an outside company would operate the bar. Stewards including volunteering parents would ensure that the marquee was monitored and policed during the event.

He said that the village only had one pub which was always packed out on gala day, so the pop-up bar would not only raise funds for the event but also relieve some of the pressure on it.

However, Ms Harling said that despite the claims, she remained opposed to the licensed event.

She said that council policy was against alcohol being served at a family event like the gala without exceptional circumstances.

She added: “In my opinion, raising funds for the gala is not sufficient reason to hold an event where alcohol is provided given the nature of the event.

“There are numerous other ways the committee can raise funds that do not involve alcohol.”

Inspector Wardell said that the presence of alcohol at the gala could lead to people wandering out of the bar area with drinks, which would breach a local byelaw against drinking in public areas and require police to enforce the law.

He said: “What I am not looking for is to introduce a scenario where we are carrying out unnecessary enforcement activity at what should be a family event.

“That raises the issue of damaging community relationships in one sense but also almost spoiling an event for something that is not necessary.”

The board refused the licence on the grounds that the bar would be in ‘excluded premises’ under its policy, was unsuitable for the sale of alcohol and the event was aimed at families and children.