Glastonbury looks to allow camping in festival's fallow years
Family camping could be offered at Worthy Farm , following a successful trial in 2021
Glastonbury has applied to stage regular camping events on Worthy Farm during 'fallow' years when there's no festival taking place.
It's part of a planning application to Mendip Council which also includes 'continuation of the annual Pilton Party' and 'permanent regularisation of pyramid structure and festival storage building'. There is also a request for 'provision of areas to accommodate the temporary festival workforce'.
The Worthy Pastures campsite operated in 2021 and didn't include music - when the festival was postponed due to the pandemic.
Families were able to camp and see the farm as it usually looks - when festivals are not taking place.
In the comments to the latest application - which can be seen here - one person responded: "It makes complete sense to confirm the continuation of the Glastonbury Festival, Pilton Party and Worthy Pastures Camping on a permanent basis as the organisers have proven that they listen to the concerns of the villagers, and year on year improve the running of the events to ensure minimal disruption. In particular, they have made great improvements regarding traffic and pedestrian flow in the village and have also improved the noise levels for those in the village and around."
But another questioned the volume of music in some overnight areas of the event, asking: "Surely if the music is intended for a relatively small audience it doesn't need to be loud enough to be heard on the opposite side of the village?"
A third added: "I am writing in support of the above application as a Pilton resident and close neighbor of the festival site. To me it seems to make perfect sense to establish the festival on a more permanent footing, and the provision of permanent infrastructure to support this is a logical step that will reduce the need for vehicle movements etc in the build-up to the event. Likewise, I am supportive of the establishment of on-site camping during non-festival years. My view is that the festival is a huge asset to the region, and the nation as a whole, both commercially, but also culturally, and I am proud to share a village with it - long may it prosper."
You can read the application here