Somerset music festival applies for additional day
Police say the request shouldn't be granted as organisers haven't given enough information
A Somerset music festival has fallen foul of the police and environmental protection officers over its plans to stage an extra day for early arrivals.
Farmfest is scheduled to take place in Bruton in July 30 and 31, but applied for a temporary licence to hold additional entertainment on the Thursday evening (July 29) before the main venue opens.
Objections to this additional day have been lodged by Avon and Somerset Constabulary and Edward Vandyck, an independent environmental protection contractor, who argue that the festival organisers have not provided enough information about how the event will be safely run.
South Somerset District Council’s licensing sub-committee will meet virtually on Monday morning (April 26) to attempt to resolve the issue.
This year’s Farmfest will be held at Gilcombe Farm near Bruton – which also hosted the annual Shindig Festival before its relocation to Dillington House near Ilminster.
The organisers applied for a temporary events notice (TEN) to allow them to serve alcohol and provide entertainment for up to 499 revellers arriving on Thursday evening (July 29).
A Farmfest spokesman said: “This is to allow up to 499 festival ticket holders to arrive to the festival early, pitch their tents and enjoy some entertainment such as recorded music, food and alcohol before the festival arena opens on Friday 30.”
The organisers have stated that they will be “fencing off an area” within the main festival site for this event – but the council said it was yet to receive any information as to how large an area would be set aside.
The police have suggested a number of conditions to allow the event to proceed – including searches at the gates to prevent ticket holders from bring in drugs or their own sound systems.
The council’s licensing sub-committee will meet virtually to discuss the issue on Monday (April 26) at 10am. The meeting will be live-streamed via the council’s official YouTube channel.