TRADERS and residents in Marlborough are hoping only closing the town's High Street for this weekend's Jazz Festival for the late afternoon and evening this year will make it possible for everyone to enjoy the event.

The festival, which starts tomorrow (Friday 15), usually sees some of the main roads closed to traffic from 10am on Saturday. This year the roads will only be closed from 5pm, after Wiltshire Council rejected an application to have the roads shut for the whole day.

Angela Lambert, manager of Framemakers, in the High Street, said: “The road closures do affect trade, it is unquestionable. This year I am going to be stewarding for the festival and now the closures begin at 5pm we will be fine as we close up by half past.”

But not all businesses in the main High Street agree, saying that the road closures have a minimal affect on their daytime trade.

Helen Buckle, who works at Fat Face in the High Street, said: “It doesn’t really affect us, the only time it would do is if it rained. The Jazz Fest and the Marlborough MOP are excellent for the town.”

The Jazz Festival committee, which asked for the all-day road closure as usual, says it fears allowing traffic through the town centre will affect public safety, because of the large number of visitors walking round the town.

Nick Fogg, organiser of the festival, said: “The real issue with the rejection is public safety. It shows a total disregard for everyone’s wellbeing. What’s more, we can no longer have our free bandstand like we could in earlier years. The bandstand provided a free show for anyone exploring the town, but that wasn’t the purpose of the application. The road closures have been taking place for 20 years, it is such a shame it won’t be happening this year.”

A consultation between May and June received 15 responses over the request to close New Road, parts of the High Street, part of Kingsbury Street and part of the Parade between 10am and midnight on Saturday. Six were totally against the road closures, eight asked for them to run from 5pm and only one response was in support of the road closure.

In a later report Coun John Thompson, cabinet member for communities and area boards, said: “The Arts Association was advised that Wiltshire Council were minded to consider an option for a closure no earlier than 5pm on the day of the event, with corresponding alternative arrangements put in place to ensure public safety. The Arts Association has responded by confirming that it has discussed this option and “…rejects it absolutely…”

l More on the Jazz Festival, including the programme, Pages 30-33