Edinburgh rave event left in turmoil as council refuse licence over drug concerns

dailyrecord.co.uk:

A 90s rave event set to be held in Edinburgh next month has been thrown into turmoil after the council refused to grant a licence over drug concerns.

The event, which was expected to be hosted at the Royal Highland Centre in Edinburgh, is on the brink of cancellation after police and council members objected to the "high risk" music festival.

All bar one of Edinburgh City Council's licensing sub-committee voted against plans to host the event. Artists such as Vengaboys, TTF, DJ Sammy and Ultrabeat were due to play at the 'festive extravaganza' which was to take place on December 3, Edinburgh Live reports.But plans have been left in doubt, with one councillor admitting she was worried about the volume of incidents in the past, adding it is "our duty to ensure public safety".Organisers had promised to put in place extra measures such as more stewards and searches to curb drug use but this was rejected.

PC Greig Stephen from the Edinburgh Police Division said there have been too many drug-related incidents at the Royal Highland Centre (RHC) previously to justify another rave.It comes less than a month after 19 year-old Maya Nager died after collapsing at the Terminal V music festival also hosted in the Ingliston venue.