The Sunflowers Festival, a three-day charity music event scheduled for October 3 to 5 near Churchdown, has been granted approval by Tewkesbury Borough Council. Monkey Bar Events Ltd received a premises licence to host the festival on the field formerly used by Witcombe Festival off Brockworth Road, with permission for one event annually between April 1 and October 31.
The festival will feature live and recorded music, alcohol sales, and performances from late afternoon into evening: 5pm to 10.30pm on Friday, 12pm to 10.30pm on Saturday, and 12pm to 5.30pm on Sunday. This year’s event will accommodate up to 3,000 attendees and aims to raise funds for Sunflowers Suicide Support.
While the previous Sunflowers Festival at Old Crown in Paganhill was a sold-out success, the new location has triggered community concerns. At a licensing sub-committee meeting, 26 objections were submitted compared to six in favor. Residents voiced worries about security and the risks posed by gatecrashers.
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Henri Schreuder, a nearby resident, expressed alarm over potential trespassing and people crossing the busy M5 motorway dangerously to access the festival without tickets. He cited previous incidents of visitors entering the site unlawfully, damaging fences, and leaving litter on his land.
Another resident, Michael Hopkins, highlighted noise pollution and its effects on local wildlife, including barn owls and kestrels thriving on his 39-year-developed farm. He also criticized the minimal notification provided to the community about the event.
In response, Sebastian Devlin, director of Monkey Bar Events, assured that extensive preparations were made to secure the festival grounds. He emphasized a strict no-trespass policy, the installation of robust security fencing, and multiple security checkpoints with ticket scanning to prevent unauthorized access.
Devlin noted the festival’s rapid growth, originating from a small 600-person event in Stroud, expanding due to overwhelming demand and raising nearly £17,000 for charity. He explained that limitations on temporary structures at their previous site necessitated relocating.
Additional safety measures include organized car parking and a taxi turnaround within the enclosed venue. The committee approved the licence with conditions recommended by police and environmental health authorities, including outreach to residents with information and an upcoming Q&A session.
Environmental considerations were encouraged, such as the use of recycled materials and conducting a wildlife survey to mitigate the festival’s impact on the surrounding area. Despite community concerns, organizers are committed to delivering a safe, well-managed event that supports a charitable cause.