THE man behind an alcohol licence application at Oxted and Limpsfield Cricket Club has reassured residents it won't mean boozing all year round.
Peter Hanrott says the plans are simply so more people can attend the club's real ale festival, which will conclude a "big week" of events in Oxted in July.
He organised the festival for the first time last year, which 2,000 people attend throughout the weekend.
But the temporary events licence would only allow 500 revellers into the cricket club at one time.
"There were queues all along the road," said Mr Hanrott.
"We want more people to be able to attend and enjoy the good beer and music on offer.
The new application, submitted on April 3, is for a permanent licence to serve alcohol at the club and allow 5,000 people into it.
Mr Hanrott said: "We will only be using the license for that weekend.
"We want to reassure people that this is not a licence we intend to use for drinking on Master Park throughout the year.
"We will be having the beer festival and the charity game and that will be it, provided we get the licence of course."
"We are not going to turn it into some kind of weekly occurrence.
"But it was so successful last year that we want to take advantage of its popularity."
The "big week" will kick off with the Oxted Pram Race on Sunday, July 14. The annual event was moved to a Sunday, as organisers felt there was too much binge and underage drinking when it was held on Friday evenings in recent years.
The following Tuesday, July 16, Oxted and Limpsfield Cricket Club will host the Lord's Taverners charity game.
And the week will be topped off with the real ale festival from Friday, July 19 to Sunday, July 21.
More than 60 beers, many of them brewed in the vicinity, will be on offer in two giant marquees set up in Master Park.
Mr Hanrott, a banker who lives in Chichele Road, said: "There is going to be so much going on between July 14 and July 21. It will be such a great week for the community."
Tandridge District Council is expected to make a decision on the application in the next month.
Cllr Martin Fisher said: "I have no problem with the club being granted permission for this application.
"I understand it was a very well-supported event last year and I wish them well with it for this year."
