On the Twenty Fourth of January the Regulatory Board of Mendip District Council met at the Council Offices in Shepton Mallet. The main agenda item was the application by Glastonbury Festivals for a public entertainment licence for 2002. As we all know, the licence was approved. This article will examine the responses presented to the Regulatory Board by the various statutory consultees (Public bodies) and the opinions voiced at the public meeting for local residents held in November. It was the tone of these responses that led to the councillors voting in favour of granting the licence, thus enabling the largest and most eclectic Festival of the Performing Arts on the planet to go ahead.

PUBLIC RESPONSES

At the public meeting there were representations made both for and against the licence application. Representations against the licence application · The main financial benefits go outside the local area · How would the Festival organisers discourage those without tickets from turning up? · Concern over the proposed new fence. · Congestion on major and minor roads. · Damage to property, which may be increased if people can't get into the site. · Possibility of a major incident. · Problems with travellers: noise disturbance. There was also one written representation received that reiterated the problems with traffic and damage to property. Representations for the licence application · The Festival brings benefits to local businesses and the local community as a whole. · The Festival has world-wide recognition. · Carnival Clubs and local charities rely on the festival as a major source of fundraising. N.B. Carnival clubs are a major social institution in the Mendip area. There were also four written representations received that related to the benefits to the local community and charities.

STATUTORY RESPONSES

The statutory consultees are the public bodies with a vested interest in the Festival; namely the Police (Avon and Somerset Constabulary), Fire Authority, Ambulance Service, Highways Authority, Environmental Health, Parish Councils, County Council Emergency Planning and Ward Councillor. Avon and Somerset Constabulary The Avon and Somerset Constabulary previously made issue over various aspects of the Festival including security, stewarding, and fence-jumpers. Once they had received the information they requested from the Festival, they withdrew any objection to the Licence application. However they did raise concern over the following: 1) Delivery Namely that the promises and proposals made in the application can be delivered. 2) Non -ticket holders. Reservations are expressed concerning the proposal to dissuade non- ticket holders from turning up at the festival site and how they - including 'travellers' - will be dealt with. N.B. It is the view of the Police that the responsibility for dealing with non -ticket holders and unauthorised camping lies with the Festival organisers and the local authority. 3) The Crime and Disorder Act 1998 Attention is drawn to the local authority's responsibilities and duties under section 17 of the 1998 Crime and Disorder act. This imposes a duty on the local authority to do all it reasonably can to prevent crime and disorder in its area. Bearing this in mind it is anticipated that recorded crime will increase in the Mendip District by 30% in the financial year 2002/3 if the licence is granted. In conclusion, the Avon and Somerset Constabulary drew attention to their duties and responsibilities at the Festival. Somerset Fire Brigade Somerset Fire Brigade had no objection to the licence being granted provided Glastonbury Festival Ltd. made written undertaking to Mendip District Council Regulatory Board that all recommended fire safety matters would be detailed in forthcoming meetings with the Brigade. Westcountry Ambulance Services The Ambulance Service did not object to the licence application. They did, however, express certain operational concerns, which needed to be addressed at the Regulatory Board meeting and also in the build up to the Festival. Somerset Health Authority The Health Authority had no objection to the licence application as long as they were assured that appropriate medical cover was provided by Festival medical services and an assurance was made that cattle would be removed from all camping areas for a minimum period of fourteen days preceding the event. Somerset Highways Authority The Highway Authority did not object in principle to the application. However they requested that if the licence was granted, a detailed traffic management plan should be submitted with regard to road closures, parking restrictions and the relevant traffic regulation orders. Parish Councils Three parish councils have interest in the Festival licence application their responses were as follows. Pilton Parish Council Whilst acknowledging the importance of the Festival's generation of funds for small businesses, community organisations and charities, Pilton Parish Council raised concerns regarding the effect on the local community regarding nuisance, noise and disruption and were also concerned about: · An increase in attendance numbers. · A requirement for the Police to have a strategy to deal with non-ticket holders. · Strict controls on entrance gates to ensure that entrance numbers are monitored. · Greater consideration of traffic arrangements around the site. · Unauthorised car parks. · Assurances from the District Council that a Council office with links to the Police will be provided in the village during the event. · Assurances that the event will be firmly controlled by the authorities, safe and agreeable to those attending and free from nuisance and disruption for Pilton residents. West Pennard Parish Council West Pennard Parish Council suggested that if excess numbers attend the event it would be better if they were accommodated on site rather than causing congestion in surrounding villages. East Pennard Parish Council There was no response from East Pennard Parish Council. County Council Emergency Planning The County Emergency Planning Officer did not object to the licence application. Ward Councillor The ward Councillor expressed concerns over two issues: · As the suggestion that without the additional ticket sales the Festival would not be viable has been made, the Ward Councillor asked that the organisers be requested to submit annual accounts. · The burden of non-ticket holders on the local community.

So what does all this mean in plain English?

Well, it means that all the public institutions with a vested interest in Glastonbury Festival 2002 agreed the licence application, although some admittedly had reservations and raised points of concern; but, as we know, after hours of deliberation Mendip District Council Regulatory Board approved the licence application and the Festival has the go-ahead. However it cannot be stressed enough that the future of the Festival is dependant on the success of Glastonbury 2002, so it is now up to you to buy a ticket and NOT to attempt to jump the fence. Remember, if you want the largest and most eclectic Festival of the Performing Arts to continue and Greenpeace, Oxfam, Wateraid and many other charities to receive much needed funds, then buy a ticket. Glastonbury Festival is an amazing thing. Let's keep it that way!

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