Festival scrapped after police oppose plans

Plans to hold a horse-drawn festival have been scrapped after police objected.

Peter Delaney from The Horsedrawn Camp had applied for a temporary event notice to host a festival on land at White House Farm in Rous Lench, near Evesham, across the Bank Holiday Weekend from August 27-29.

West Mercia Police objected to the plans saying it is concerned by anti-social behaviour and the disruption it will cause for villagers.

Wychavon District Council’s licensing subcommittee was due to meet on Tuesday to make a decision but the plan was withdrawn before the meeting took place.

In their objection, police licensing officers said: “In the past we have had a number of complaints directly linked to the organisation and activity as part of the events organised by Mr Delaney.

“I have a number of concerns over the access to the land, which has in the past caused a road traffic collision as access is through the small village of Rous Lench. This is a risk to public safety.

“The anti-social behaviour linked to the festival by way of noise and intimidation to local communities, the festival is open air – a tent has no sound proofing abilities – and the licensable activity until 2am can be heard in the neighbouring village, causing disruption. This is causing a public nuisance.”

A festival was held in May 2019 and another was due to be held in Rous Lench last year which police say they also objected to.

Police say an officer was refused entry to the ‘Beltane Bash’ festival on the same site when carrying out licensing checks in 2019 and a horse drawn carriage was also involved in a crash with a van near to the festival site on the same weekend.

The event had been described as a “marquee with live music performances, bar, café and camping” and could have seen up to 500 people attend.

The last event in Rous Lench was attended by 380 festivalgoers.

The festival would have promoted alternative energy and focused on environmental issues with large parts of the site run by solar power.