Fears over Forest of Dean festival

Fears drunken revellers could wander into the woods and fall and die if plans for a summer festival in the Forest of Dean get the go-ahead.

Organisers of the Five Bar Gate Festival want permission to hold the event at Stockwood in Clearwell near Coleford some time during August.

The independent music festival would run from Thursday to Sunday and they say it offers a social environment that is safe, family friendly and appealing to younger audiences.

But local residents and Newland Parish Council are opposing the plans which they say there has been a lack of public consultation over.

Objectors say the amplified music will be a nuisance for villagers and the guests of the nearby hotel.

And people also fear drunken festival goers could hurt themselves by wandering into the scowles.

Mark Cordory, an objector, said: “I simply cannot see how it could safely accommodate either regular large groups of unsupervised and inebriated individuals, or indeed a full-blown festival as proposed.

“The site itself is an area of natural beauty right on the outskirts of a quiet village, the landscape is ancient and unique to this area and needs conserving from the actions of potentially large numbers of inebriated party-goers that would be attracted to the venue as a result of the combination of music and alcohol.

“The potential damage to the location is great, not to mention the very real potential of physical harm or even death for drunken individuals venturing into the scowles at night, this is simply not a safe venue for anyone in the dark who doesn’t know the area, and no matter what restrictions are placed upon the venue boundaries, I fear this is certain to be an inevitable result at some point.”

Organisers say the festival will heavily rely on local bands, artists and performers, however, their intention within the first year is to be able to budget for several emerging, regionally and nationally recognisable acts and bands.

The capacity of the event in its initial year is to be no more than 700 attendees including event organisers, traders and performers.

The organisers say the festival would be open to all ages but they believe the primary age range will be between 20-45 years.

They have applied to Forest of Dean District Council for permission to supply alcohol on the premises from noon to 10pm Monday to Wednesday and 8am to midnight Thursday to Saturday and noon to 10 pm on Sundays.

They also want permission to play live and recorded music in doors and outdoors during the same time.

The applicant says a team of around 20 stewards will be used over the course of the weekend to ensure that the public are communicated with clearly.

“This will include the direction of vehicles on and off the site, communicating the whereabouts of facilities on the site and regulating the areas that the public are permitted to access on the site and signage will be used on site to direct the public,” their application reads.

“The event is to be set in a relaxed environment and the music being performed at the event is unlikely to cause any negative emotions causing distress or outbursts of aggression.

“Gloucestershire Police will be contacted at least three months prior to the event. If a situation occurs on site in which an individual or group of individuals behaviour appears to be unmanageable or escalating, the police will be contacted by the festival organisers.”

The council’s licensing sub-committee is due to consider the plans at a meeting on January 26.