Stokes Bay Festival can go ahead, magistrates rule (From This is Hampshire)

Stokes Bay Festival can go ahead, magistrates rule

5:24pm Friday 26th June 2009 in

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A POPULAR Hampshire music festival can now go ahead.

Police objections to the siting had put a huge question mark over this year's Stokes Bay Festival at Gosport.

This threat has been lifted after an agreement was reached at Portsmouth Magistrates Court today between the police and festival organisers for some extra stewards and minor changes to the festival site plan.

The five day event will now take place as planned between Wednesday July 29 and Sunday August 2 at Stokes Bay.

Artists confirmed include The Zutons; The Proclaimers; Seth Lakeman; The Saw Doctors; Oysterband; Adrian Edmondson & The Bad Shepherds; Lunasa and The SAS Band (Spike's All-Stars featuring Paul Young, Fish, Tom Robinson and special guest vocalists).

Festival organiser Peter Chegwyn said he was "absolutely delighted" with the police agreement which lifted a threat to stop the festival happening this year.

He said: "This is wonderful news and a huge relief. We have always enjoyed a very good working relationship with the police who recognise that Stokes Bay is one of the safest and friendliest festivals in the land."

" It is good news for the vast majority of local residents who support the festival that it will now go-ahead as planned."