WOMAD licensing hearing to take place next month (From The Wiltshire Gazette and Herald)

WOMAD licensing hearing to take place next month

4:14pm Tuesday 7th August 2012 in Malmesbury By Victoria Ashford

A licensing hearing to discuss the future of WOMAD festivals in Wiltshire has been scheduled for September, if resolution is not made sooner.

The hearing, which was initially planned for four days before the start of the event in July, has been postponed until early next month.

Police initially called for the licensing hearing in order to discuss the policing numbers at future festivals at Charlton Park, near Malmesbury.

To WOMAD organisers’ dismay, the hearing will also be discussing concerns over this year’s festival, despite it being recognised as the safest festival of its kind in the country.

A spokesman for WOMAD said: “The hearing will still be debating concerns that the police had with regards to the 2012 festival, which has gone by now with a low crime rate.

“WOMAD is very confused about it; we don’t really understand what’s going on. WOMAD is the safest large festival in the country.

“It does all have to be formally wrapped up though even if it’s all been sorted.

“Everyone loves WOMAD and it’s a shame that we are having to go through this with the police but we have to play ball and these are the rules we have to abide by.”

The police and festival organisers have been in negotiations and if a resolution is made prior to the hearing date then it is expected to be called off. Police made 10 arrests across the weekend at this year’s 30th anniversary celebration out of the 37,000 who attended.