Police object to film festival on venue fire-safety grounds

POLICE have objected to the hosting of a film festival in Cardiff due to fire safety fears.

Cardiff Mini Film Festival is being planned in a host of pop-up venues across the city centre from June 22 to 24.

But South Wales Police have objected to five temporary event notices submitted by festival organisers due to concerns over its fire risk assessments.

The festival said it will work with the police to get the licences approved.

A licensing hearing will be held by Cardiff council tomorrow to decide the outcome of the events notices – which are for 12 Morgan Arcade (previously Bang and Olufsen), the basement of 33 Royal Arcade, the former Moss Bros shop near St David’s shopping centre, and 27-31 High Street Arcade.

Tim Davies, from South Wales Police licensing, in a letter to the council, said: “South Wales Police object to the notices under the licensing objective of public safety.

“The applicant has failed to provide sufficient fire risk assessments which have been agreed with South Wales Fire and Rescue.

“Without a fire risk assessment which is fit for purpose the event cannot be considered to be safe.”

The film festival, which is in its seventh year, is being planned at nine venues across Cardiff next weekend.

Some of the venues could hold up to 300 people if the terms of the temporary event notices are approved.

The three-day festival, if the licences are approved, will have 246 short films and six feature-length pictures across all the venues.

Highlights of the festival would include classic horror Night of the Living Dead, and Welsh-made short Necklace.

A spokesman for the festival said: “A more detailed risk assessment was required that has now been carried out this week.”