The voluntary organisers of the Celtic Blue Rock music festival say they will petition the Welsh Assembly to offer community events fairer licensing conditions, following a successful prosecution by Pembrokeshire County Council over several breaches at the 2007 festival.

The company admitted 12 breaches of council issued premises licence at the event near Llanfyrnach on August 4th 2007.

The offences related to concerns about general safety on the site including portable electrical supplies to structures, ticketing control, the security of the fencing and the control of occupancy within a specific marquee. Two other charges were withdrawn.

In mitigation the company said it was a non-profit making organisation, with assets of only £494. It also stated that it did not have a very long time to comply with the new licence, granted just two months before the event.

Haverfordwest magistrates imposed a 12 month conditional discharge and ordered that the company pay £3,500 in prosecution costs within 28 days.

With the possibility of incurring around £40,000 in fines and costs if they fought the case, organisers of the festival say they had no option but to plead guilty .

"The organisers feel that the case bought against them was totally unfounded and an over reaction by local authority officials," said group spokesman Cris Tomos.

"The festival organisers ensure that all their funds are spent on a professional and safe event and have spent over £50,000 this year alone on contractors."

The group has now launched a petition on their website that urges the Welsh Assembly to look at alternative fairer licensing conditions for community and voluntary groups which are currently subject to the same regulations as large nightclubs and commercial events.

Speaking after the case Pembrokeshire County Council's Pollution Control and Licensing Manager, Gareth Watts, said: "The Authority continues to work with the organisers of this event year on year to ensure that lessons are learnt and that there are continual improvements in organisation and infrastructure.

" The event in 2007 was a steep learning curve for the organisers and we look forward to the future with optimism.”