Plans for the Existance Festival, a psytrance music event set to host up to 2,000 attendees at Boldridge Farm in Long Newnton, have recently been approved despite growing concerns over wildfire risks in the area.
The festival licence was granted by Cotswold District Council on 19 August, allowing Wilde Dancing Ltd to hold live and recorded music, screen films until 2am on three nights, and to provide late-night refreshments and the sale of alcohol from 3 to 6 September.
More than 70 objections were lodged by local residents, citing serious fears about fire safety following the Government’s national alert on wildfire risks. Although the licence imposes restrictions such as a ban on fireworks, pyrotechnics, open fires, and barbecues, smoking will be permitted under strict conditions requiring the safe disposal of cigarettes and other materials.
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An independent fire inspection, possibly conducted by Gloucestershire Fire & Rescue Service, is mandated before the event begins to address the concerns raised during the licensing hearing, particularly in light of the exceptionally dry conditions.
Despite these measures, many locals remain apprehensive. Firefighters were recently called to the festival site to extinguish a blaze, intensifying worries about preparedness.
Di Thomas, Chair of Long Newnton Parish Council, expressed multiple safety concerns, especially highlighting that the site reportedly has only one emergency exit to the south. She noted the absence of a northern emergency route and pointed out logistical challenges, such as fire engines needing to use the same limited route for water replenishment around 1.5 miles away. Thomas also underscored the risk posed by straw bales intended as sound barriers and the flat topography that could facilitate rapid fire spread.
Moreover, the use of the Fosseway as an emergency exit worries locals, with Thomas describing it as “an overgrown tinderbox” vulnerable to wind-accelerated fires.
Neighbour Judy Pratt described the area surrounding the festival site as highly flammable, likening it to an “African bush,” and recalled the recent fire requiring multiple fire engines and water drawn from a distant lake. She fears a wildfire could devastate local farms and potentially spread as far as Kemble and Cotswold Airport.
Pratt voiced astonishment at the licence approval amidst such risks, stating, “It’s putting a festival ahead of people’s lives. The fires are a real risk. The farmland is a tinder box. It’s a real concern.”
Event organisers have acknowledged these concerns and assured that a professional safety team has been engaged to develop comprehensive safety plans. The arrangements include continuous patrolling by staff, security personnel, and stewards throughout the festival site.
Gloucestershire Fire & Rescue Service has been contacted for comment regarding the ongoing safety arrangements and risk assessments.