Hopes to host a music festival on the beach have been silenced after councillors voted to ban it from taking place.

An application to put on the two-day gig on the waterfront in Folkestone was put forward by events company Unforeseen Productions CIC.

But the ticketed festival proposed for Mermaid Beach - located under The Leas – was turned down due to historic covenants on the land preventing such type of events taking place.

Event manager, Rohan Scully, believes Folkestone and Hythe District Council (FHDC) has been “totally irrational” in its decision making.

“I already have the licence and it was paid for months ago," he said.

“The event was all going ahead. I had booked high-profile acts to come and launch the event.

“The concerns the council have raised are totally irrational. I put forward a 20-page event management plan with every possible detail you can imagine.”

Mr Scully told KentOnline he has organised 400 events and has been doing this kind of work since the age of 14.

“I have planned festivals for over 20,000 people in the past; this could be such a great thing for Folkestone," he added.

Mr Scully, who has lived in Folkestone since 2010, said the two-day event scheduled for July 1 and 2 would have a capacity attendance of 499 including staff, organisers and performers.

The land is part of the Radnor Estate and is managed by the Folkestone Parks and Pleasure Grounds charity, with the committee made up of district councillors.

Members discussed the plans last month after a temporary events notice (TEN) was submitted to the charity in March requesting it relax the rules around the restrictions.

The applicants had hoped to have access for five days to allow for setting up the facility which would have seen the charity paid £6,250.

The festival would have taken place between 11am and 11pm on both days and feature food and drink stands, bar, arts and craft market stalls, toilet facilities and a dance floor area in front of a DJ booth and stage set up on the promenade.

Mr Scully added: “It would also be great for local businesses. After the event people would head to other bars in the town.”

Mr Scully has started a petition online to “save the Unforseen beach festival”.

Cllr David Monk (Con) believes parking issues and music until 11pm makes the festival impossible to go head.

He said: “You can’t shut that part of the beach for five days.

“He says there is plenty of parking. But for 500 people there is no way near enough space.

“Residents along the Leas won’t have it.”

A report to the charity members said: “Even though permission has not been given for the use of the land, the event organiser has advised that he has already incurred expenditure of £15,990 securing artists, having web content created and paying deposits.

“The event organiser has since been advised that the beach would not be suitable due to the covenants on the land.

“However, they have asked for the covenants to be temporarily released so that the event can take place.

“The organiser has also indicated that they would like to organise the event every year and hopefully grow the number of attendees.”

The legal covenant first set out in 1994 for the land states it should only be used “as a quiet undeveloped open area to be enjoyed primarily by pedestrians and those seeking pleasant and peaceful surroundings”.

It also states no motor vehicles should park on the land, no advertising or placards put up which could “deteriorate the natural beauty of the area” and not to sell or allow the sale of “intoxicating or other liquor”.

The restrictions also state there no other structure or booth – apart from an existing tea chalet and ice cream kiosk – should be allowed to be set up for the “sale of goods of any nature whatsoever”.

Councillors unanimously voted to not allow the event to go ahead.