Open-air cinema and festival planned at clifftop site in Cornwall
The Wavelength Spring Classic, a new four-day festival, is set to be held at Watergate Bay in July
Last updated 19th Mar 2021
A new music festival and an open air cinema overlooking a beach are being planned for this summer.
The Wavelength Spring Classic, a new four-day festival, is set to be held in July at Watergate Bay.
In addition there are plans for an outdoor cinema at the site running from July to September.
A licensing application for both events is set to be considered by Cornwall councillors when they meet next Wednesday (March 24th).
On its website The Wavelength Spring Classic is described as: "A celebration of live music, ride culture and van life".
The licensing application for the festival states that it was originally planned to be held in May this year, but documents submitted with the application state that they would move the event to comply with Covid-19 restrictions. As a result the event is being planned to be held from July 9th to 12th.
Organisers are planning the event to have a 2,500 capacity in the first year and will have camping space for 2,000 revellers.
In documents submitted with the licensing application it is stated that the event is targeted at 25 to 55 year olds and that it will be family friendly.
They state that the music will be a mix of pop and soft rock music with mainly local and regional acts and "headlined by an artist of national acclaim".
The festival would be held at Lean's Field which is situated on the cliff edge behind the Watergate Bay Hotel.
Organisers have also included in the licence application plans for an outdoor cinema to be held on the same site.
Under the plans it would run for seven weeks from July 16th to September 5th and there would be screenings Thursday to Sunday each week. In addition there would also be a bar and catering facilities for moviegoers.
There would be two movies screened each day with the first at around 3pm and a second starting at around 9pm.
Film fans would be able to watch the movies drive-in style from their cars or there will be picnic areas where they can take chairs and blankets.
The licensing application has attracted some comments and concerns from the police, public safety officers and councillors.
Police said that they were concerned about the fence separating the site from the coastal path and said that a “more substantial structure is required”. They also said they needed more information about how campers may be affected by adverse weather.
A Cornwall Council health and safety officer said they had a number of concerns including whether the cinema screen would withstand heavy weather in the exposed field.
They were also concerned about cars getting stuck in parking areas and the safety of pedestrian visitors to the site.
John Fitter, Cornwall councillor for Colan and St Mawgan, said that he had “strong objections” to the application.
He raised concerns about the sale of alcohol close to the coast path and said there was no safe pedestrian route to the site.
Cllr Fitter added: "This is the open countryside part of the Northern Jewel in the crown of Newquay, just because Boardmasters have got their permission does not mean we have to repeat the mistake.
"We must protect our landscape and cliffs for people to enjoy and not subject them to in town development".
Councillor John Fitter
There was a letter of support for the event submitted by Pete Cowling from Trebelsue Farm.
He said: "The event was held on my land last year and I found it to be a great event that was very professional run and organised".
Cornwall Council's licensing act sub-committee will consider the application when it meets on Wednesday (March 24th).