Ipstones residents and councillors hit out at 'irresponsible' plans for music festival

Pictured above is Intake Farm in Ipstones

Major concerns have been raised after plans for a music festival on the edge of rural Ipstones were revealed.

Wild Festivals Group Limited is planning to stage the Staffordshire Love Reggae Themed Festival at Intake Farm, Church Lane, Ipstones between May 30 and June 6.

However, members of the public and councillors have raised concerns that up to 500 people could surge into the community at a time when Covid-19 is still spreading.

Fears have also been raised over additional traffic on the single track road leading to the proposed venue.

Residents have contacted the InYourArea and the Post and Times highlighting their fears.

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

"We have been in lockdown over the last 12 months due to the pandemic.

"We have not seen our families for months, but now we are looking at up to 500 people descending on the village.

"This is not right. Another concern is the narrow single track along Church Lane to the venue.”

District councillor for the area, Linda Malyon, who is also the chairman of Ipstones Parish Council, has called on the organisers to cancel the event.

She said: “I along with many people of our community are very concerned that a Staffordshire Love reggae theme festival will descend on the village.

"We as a community have been looking after each other through Covid-19 and everyone has taken care, to be faced with this, is inappropriate and very unsafe in a number of ways.

“The road system is single track, how will emergency services not only get to this event but to people surrounding it? Also noise levels to the surrounding area is an issue and people could wander over land which is a danger to livestock in the area.

"Then there are vehicles that are needed to service this type of event. There are around 500 visitors to the event but who will keep count?

“I hope the organisers will think again and cancel this inappropriate event.

"Even though from May 17 large events can be held surely common sense should come into this and look at an appropriate place to hold such an event, not down a single track road and onto a cart track, if the organisers could respect the community and cancel the event it is far too soon and totally inappropriate in this location.”

Cheddleton councillor, Councillor Mike Bowen, who has the responsibility for communities at Staffordshire Moorlands District Council, said the risk of importing Covid-19 at this time was great.

He said: “At the moment, all large events such as this have been put on hold in the Staffordshire Moorlands in line with government regulations. To hold such an event when lockdown has not been lifted is unlawful.

“Even if the restrictions were fully relaxed, it would seem to be an irresponsible action to take, given that the Covid-19 virus is still very much with us and the risk of importing it at this time is very great.

“Further, the local residents in Ipstones and the neighbouring villages are extremely concerned about the impact of a potentially very large influx of traffic on very narrow country lanes, possible anti-social behaviour and an associated rise in the level of crime, not to mention noise, litter and pollution increases.

"This  is a quiet, peaceful, beautiful, rural area and it should remain that way."

However, Ray Perry managing director of Wild Festivals Group Limited has allayed any fears residents have.

He said: “We’re not a bunch of Wild hooligans as our name suggests to some, our age range being between 35 and 80, we’re well past that.

“Sadly, Covid has done a lot to damage our business this year and planning has certainly been affected.

"Without knowing what could and couldn’t be done until a couple of weeks ago it’s really hindered our ability to be transparent sooner.

"I am incredibly sorry to have caused any villagers distress or concern by the way this has come out into the public domain. I will be doing all I can to make certain it is understood, what we actually are and what we represent on Wednesday night’s meeting of the parish council.

“In the meantime, please have no fear we’re not planning on bringing ravers to your village, we are not planning on having sound systems where by music will travel further than 800 metres and we certainly won’t be bringing road chaos to your area, with people arriving all through the week.

"On average we have between 80 and hundred vehicles staggered and arriving on different days/times. Their arrivals in the village will be unnoticed and we will be bringing a lot less people to the village than the surrounding campsites in your area do during all of spring and summer.”

“Many of our members prefer to stay on site with us because they want to spend time with friends they made at previous events and this is the only time we can all get together again.

"We will be instructing people to not go into villages and to limit travel off of site, to help keep communities safe as we have done in the past.

"We have food and drink supplies delivered on site from supermarkets and we have our own toilet facilities and rubbish collections arranged by us. We are completely self-sufficient, there is no need for anyone to leave site.

“We really aren’t in this to cause anyone distress, all we want to do is host nice events in nice natural locations, we don’t wish to upset anyone at all.”

Councillor Malyon has called for an extraordinary meeting of the parish council, today Wednesday, to discuss the issue.