Reggae festival postponed in late decision

Bath Reggae Festival was postponed 24 hours after it was given a partial go-ahead.

More than 2,000 music fans were set to come together for the inaugural Bath Reggae Festival.

Organisers VIP Production had some final hurdles to get over by noon on Friday (August 20) before the licence could be rubber stamped for the following day.

Bath and North East Somerset Council then said on Friday afternoon that the organisers of the event at Kensington Meadows had decide to postpone it.

Cllr Dine Romero, cabinet member for children and young people, communities and culture, said: “We look forward to continuing to work with the organisers of Bath Reggae Festival to support them in bringing a safe and vibrant event to Bath in the future.”

Organisers VIP Production were criticised for their last-minute approach and lacking basic information in the application. The organisers had been given a partial go-ahead in a licensing subcommittee meeting on Thursday last week but told to get other details to the council by the following day.

Speaking after that meeting, the firm’s production manager, who declined to give his name, said: “We’re happy the council wanted the event to go ahead. We did a very similar event a week ago that went down a storm and no doubt this will as well.”

Later senior environmental health officer Sara Chiffers said: “We’ve had extensive dialogue with the organisers about elements of the event management plan that were unclear, contradictory.

“It’s been very difficult. We don’t expect to have to ask for basic things like the opening and closing times, the demographics.”

Ticketholders are now asked to contact the organisers for further details. The Bath Reggae Festival website can be found at: http:// bathreggaefestival.co.uk.