Plans for the Existance Festival, a psytrance music event set to host up to 2,000 attendees at Boldridge Farm in Long Newnton, have been approved despite ongoing fears over wildfire risks in the area.
The festival’s licence was granted by Cotswold District Council on 19 August, allowing Wilde Dancing Ltd to provide live and recorded music, film screenings, late-night refreshments, and the sale of alcohol until 2am on three nights during the event from 3 to 6 September.
Over 70 individuals opposed the application, citing serious concerns about fire safety, particularly in light of recent government alerts about increased wildfire danger nationwide. The licence includes strict conditions: fireworks, pyrotechnics, fires, and barbecues are prohibited on site, and smoking is permitted only with clear signage instructing proper disposal of materials.
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Additionally, an independent fire inspection by a competent authority, such as Gloucestershire Fire & Rescue Service, is mandated before the event begins. This measure responds directly to concerns raised about the unusually dry conditions and potential hazards.
Nonetheless, local residents remain uneasy. Firefighting crews were recently dispatched to the festival site to extinguish a blaze, underscoring the area’s vulnerability. Di Thomas, chair of Long Newnton Parish Council, voiced worries about safety due to the site’s limited emergency access. “There is only one emergency exit to the south, with no exit to the north,” she explained. “This exit route overlaps with the path fire engines must use to refill water, requiring a lengthy journey of one and a half miles.”
Thomas also highlighted the use of straw bales as sound barriers, raising fire risk further. The flat topography could facilitate rapid fire spread. She expressed particular concern about the proposed emergency exit via the Fosseway, which she described as “an overgrown tinderbox,” where prevailing winds could carry flames across the land.
Neighbour Judy Pratt recalled the recent fire response on the site, noting the insufficient water supply, which forced crews to source water from a nearby lake. “Ashley Marsh Farm is dense with thickets and woods; it resembles the African bush,” she said. “A fire here could devastate farms and spread northwards to Kemble and Cotswold Airport.” Pratt questioned the decision to approve the festival, given the imminent risks and government warnings.
Representatives from the festival organisers acknowledged the community’s fire safety concerns during last week’s meeting. They emphasised the engagement of a professional safety team and outlined comprehensive plans involving staff, security, and stewards patrolling the site continuously throughout the event.
Gloucestershire Fire & Rescue Service has been contacted for comment regarding the event and its safety arrangements.