Unfortunately, The licence application was turned down.

There is an option to appeal ......

We got the result of our licence application 2 days ago, and despite indications that it was pretty much a done-deal; there havebeen sufficient objections to force a hearing – dated 17th April.

We are confident that we could win this hearing, and address all the issues raised. However, we have been advised that there is at least one person who is willing to contest the result and take it to a Magistrates Court Hearing. The possible time scale for the process would be:    

• 17th April  - Licence Hearing 
• 21 days to appeal against the result 
• 8th May  - Appeal lodged against a successful licence 
• Magistrates have up to 2 months to address this. 
• 8th  July – Possible Licence Grant 
• This leaves a 6 week time period for:
• Contracting, Marketing, Ticket Sales, Drawing down of Funding, etc etc 
• 31st August – Event start 

So, the crux issue is that even though we can overcome any objections in practise, the time scale of the process makes it impossible to begin ticket sales in good faith, in time to ensure the festival planning is robust and successful. These dates do take in the worst case scenario, which is what we have to be prepared for; as seemingly we have an individual who is willing and able to use the process to its full extent. 

We have no doubt that we can achieve the licence in the long term There is massive public support for this.

• Our planning is robust and typical of much larger events
• The application is the first of its kind for this Council, and technically challenging.
• The Council remain fully supportive
• The police remain fully supportive  

Unfortunately, we feel that the exposure of risk to everyone, to carry on for 2007 is too much. Bands we have contacted need to have time to get other gigs, contractors similarly, and the public attendees cannot be misled with an event that may not be possible.

 The event organisers have spent a considerable time on this, for no personal gain, and indeed at a cost of other work they have turned down. 

We have however decided that due to the huge response we have had from the public, and from bands, both locally and nationally … it is worth pursuing the project  for delivery in 2008. 

We aim to submit the licence application now – by May 1st, which, using the above worst case scenario of objections, would mean that we expect to gain a licence by September 2007

 May I apologise to everyone about this, for circumstances which have been beyond our control. Particular apologies go out to The Stranglers, and Levellers who I know juggled some dates to be able to play …  We would like you to play  in 2008  if possible ….  Similarly, all bands that we have confirmed a slot for we would like to invite you all to play in 2008 … please confirm if this is possible to This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it

 We expect quite a response to this unfortunate postponement in the local newspapers, as it achieved a good support, from many angles. As bands and infrastructure providers,  you may feel that a letter is worthy to the newspaper, showing how it has affected you, and how you support next years festival …  I would encourage this, and I know the newspapers would be willing to put in extra pages if necessary.

You are receiving this information before the general press release below, so, as such if you write in to the papers asap, they will appear simultaneously. Please explain how you are involved;  as a provider/band/trader/etc etc   … 

For your information …

Letters can be sent to …

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also copy to news team ..

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letters to Yorkshire Post via here

http://www.yorkshiretoday.co.uk/contactus.aspx 

Westmoreland Gazette

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Telegraph and Argus

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Again,  I apologise for the trouble this has caused you, and I would appreciate it if you could support us with your presence  in 2008

 Kind regards, 

Mark Dale, 

Festival Director