Residents object to Cider and Music Festival at Stratford Rugby Club

THE DECISION whether to give the go-ahead to a Cider and Music Festival at Stratford Rugby Club teeters in the balance.

Stratford District Council’s licencing panel will consider whether to approve a premises licence for the one-off family festival at the rugby club in Loxley Road when it meets on Thursday May 22.

They will either approve or refuse the application submitted by On Tick Ltd – an events company specialising in running large scale events, after weighing up the evidence.

The festival has attracted opposition from a number of residents as well as SDC’s licencing and environmental health chiefs.

If given the go-ahead, the two day event, to be staged on Saturday July 12 from 12pm until 10pm and Sunday July 13 from 12pm until 9pm, would comprise music from a host of tribute bands, food and trade stands and fairground rides . The application also seeks to allow boxing or wrestling outdoors.

It is anticipated up to 2,500 people could attend the festival each day.

It will be a one-off event after the applicant withdrew plans to hold it annually.

Henry Biddington, SDC’s environmental health and licensing manager, and Ben Ellis, SDC’s senior environmental health officer, have both objected to the premises licence.

Mr Biddington has expressed concern around the lack of onsite parking and ingress and exit from the site and interaction with traffic.

Mr Ellis raised concerns about the close proximity of the event to residential properties. The rugby ground is directly behind homes in Loxley Road and close to properties both on the Tiddington Road and Elgin Gardens. Mr Ellis is further concerned about the general noise and disruption from crowds leaving the event.

There have been four objections from residents living on Loxley Road. Their concerns are around high volumes of traffic, noise issues, public nuisance, prevention of crime and disorder, and public safety.

Jason Savidge the chairman of Stratford Rugby Football Club supports the application.