A masquerade and burlesque festival will return to Earlham Park this year despite a single complainant bringing the organisers before Norwich City Council licensing councillors.

Eastern Daily Press: The Maui Waui Festival.The Maui Waui Festival. (Image: Archant)

The men behind the Maui Waui Masked Ball 2016 decided to apply for a temporary premises licence to allow for a big-top tent to be erected this July, but a neighbour has opposed the move by claiming it would 'attract a criminal element'.

Further complaints from the neighbour included the potential for smashed glass, which could 'injure animals', and noise from people filtering out of the event.

A spin-off of the regular festival in Theberton, Suffolk, the ball was put on hold last year due to Radio One's Big Weekend.

Organisers Oliver Platt and Silas Rayner told Norwich City Council's licensing sub-committee there have never been any problems at their events, and they have often been praised by Suffolk Police.

'We ran this event the year before last in Earlham Park, which had very good feedback from all involved and went very well,' said Mr Platt.

'Unfortunately last year Radio One pipped us to the use of Earlham Park, so we spoke to Norwich City Council to try to secure it to get back in again this year.'

The temporary licence would allow Maui Waui to open its big top tent between 6pm and midnight on Friday July 8, and between 11am and 2pm, and 7pm and 2am on Saturday, July 9.

'Historically we have run events across the region, and we have never had any connection with crime and disorder,' added Mr Platt. 'Suffolk Police have always written to say how well we run the event.

'The majority of the audience we are attracting are 25 years-plus, not people who want to go out and create problems.'

The issues of broken glass and noise pollution would also be carefully managed, the pair said.

'In all our events everything is served in plastic glasses,' said Mr Platt.

'We normally do a sound check with Environmental Health and agree our sound levels with them.

'If it is a very calm night, we have our own sound monitors so in the event there is a complaint we are perfectly happy to go over to them and check the sound levels.'

The premises licence was granted unanimously by the sub-committee, on the added condition any sound level set by Environmental Health is complied with.

Are you holding a summer event in Norwich this year? Email dominic.gilbert@archant.co.uk