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Council takes record store to court for asking Faryl Smith to sing to promote her debut album
Jobsworths at Kettering Council have turned what should have been a treat for fans of singer Faryl Smith into a courtroom battle after deciding to prosecute the record shop which hosted the launch of her debut CD.
The council is taking HMV to court for allowing the nationally-acclaimed 14-year-old to sing a song from her album while allegedly not having a public entertainment licence for the event in March this year.
The court action has been met with disbelief by the manager of the Newlands Centre, Neil Griffin, who has been called as a prosecution witness in the forthcoming court case.
He said: "It just beggars belief. I don't think anyone will understand why the council is doing this. This is a local girl who's done good. The event brought people into the town and into the shopping centre. There was no health and safety problems. It seems HMV didn't have the correct bit of paper.
"I have been called as a prosecution witness but I have already said what my views are going to be.
"The prosecution will be a waste of public money."
Kettering Council, which hired Faryl to perform at the opening of the new-look Market Place in August, has refused to explain why it is taking the action.
But it has issued a statement saying: "Due to the legal nature of this case it would be inappropriate for us to make any further comment."
The record store is accused of failing to comply with the 2003/4 Licensing Act and will appear at Corby Magistrates' Court in February.
HMV said it was unable to comment on the case because of ongoing legal issues.
The council did want to make it clear that the legal case was only being brought against HMV and not Faryl.
Bryan Goosey, of Braemar Close, Kettering, said: "I think it's disgusting. I don't think it's the best way to spend council taxpayers' money."
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Sunday 27 May 2012
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