Music festival in village cancelled after protests

Organisers praised for calling off Ipstones event

ORGANISERS of a music festival planned for Ipstones have been praised for their understanding after they cancelled the event.

Wild Festivals Group Limited had planned to stage the Staffordshire Love Reggae themed festival at Intake Farm in Ipstones, from May 30 to June 6.

However, members of the public and councillors were concerned that up to 500 people could come into the community at a time when Covid-19 is still spreading.

Concerns were also raised over additional traffic on the single track road leading to the proposed venue.

One resident, who did not want to be named, said: “This is just not the right time to organise a music festival.”

However, following concerns from members of the community, Ray Perry, managing director of Wild Festivals Group Limited, has announced the festival won’t take place in Ipstones.

He said: “It’s been a tough decision to make, but we feel as a responsible events group we want to do the right thing.

“It’s clearly caused a lot of fear amongst the community surrounding the farm and the last thing we want to do is make things worse for people at a time like this. I’m 100 per cent confident we could have held the event with absolutely no issue and kept people safe, however, it wasn’t to be. “It may not be possible to find a new venue, but even so I would just like to allay fears among residents of the area.

“We will not be coming to their village at the end of May.

“We will either find an alternative or postpone the event until next year. “Thank you all for your time, I hope this decision will make everyone’s life easier. We want to have friends in the communities that we stay in, we want to help local economies and more than anything we want to be welcome.”

The news has been welcomed by district councillor for the area, Linda Malyon, who is also the chairman of Ipstones Parish Council.

Mrs Malyon had called on the organisers to cancel the event after being inundated with concerns and complaints.

She said: “I would like to thank the organisers of the music festival for cancelling the event.

“I think it is sensible until everyone has had their vaccinations and we come out of Covid-19 fully it is the best decision, thank you.”

‘We will not be coming to their village at the end of May. We will find an alternative or postpone’

Ray Perry