MARLBOROUGH Jazz Festival organisers says they have cancelled next year's event because of a dispute over road closures.

They say without them they fear for people's safety. Now chairman Nick Fogg says he might take the event to another town if the committee cannot come up with an alternative plan.

The committee has been in dispute with Wiltshire Council over its refusal to allow the road closures in Marlborough High Street this year.

Mr Fogg said: “Unless Wiltshire Council decides to change its mind on the road closures there will be no Jazz Festival next year, it would be irresponsible of us to carry on with it in the interest of safety.

“With any further plans to the festival, we are unsure of any dates of when it could take place. We also wouldn’t want to move it out of Marlborough as we are attached to the town and it wouldn’t not be in the spirit of the festival, but we have been approached by people who are interested in holding it elsewhere.”

"It is a shame because it attracts a lot of business and visitors to the town, everyone I have spoken to about it has said they think it is a shame.”

The festival, which had been allowed to close the main road through the town to traffic all day for 20 years, had its all-day closure application rejected by Wiltshire Council this year, with the council suggesting a road closure only from 5pm on Saturday, July 16 instead of from 10am.

The closure was rejected because the council was responding from feedback from businesses in the town about the impact an all-day closure had on trade.

“This is a bit of an own goal by Wiltshire Council, people have said what a sad thing it would be if the festival were to stop. It would be irresponsible of us to do otherwise. This year we had a near miss when a van swerved off the highway while trying to avoid the crowds, missing the pedestrians by inches,” added Mr Fogg.

No action was ever taken over the alleged incident, after police said they had not received photos Mr Fogg claimed showed the incident.

Mr Fogg said the trustees of the festival will now be turning their attention to devising new events which are not dependent on the road closures for public safety.

Liz Oborne, manager of the Bear Hotel in the High Street, said: “The festival does bring in good revenue for us. The road closure this year made a big difference, usually the atmosphere up at this end of the High Street is great, there is a real buzz, but this year it wasn’t the same, it just seemed really dangerous, cars were narrowly missing people walking up the High Street and it was a wonder how nobody got knocked down.

"Whilst I don’t agree with the way the festival does things sometimes I think it would be a shame.”

Marcus Rossi, assistant manager of The Green Dragon pub in the High Street, said: “It would have an effect on us if it didn’t take place, we would go from making £5,000 a day down to something like £2,000 so it would have a big impact. The festival is iconic for Marlborough so it would be a shame to see it go.”

Jim Geremezoglu, manager of Castle and Ball in the High Street, said: “It is usually a very busy time for us during the festival. I think I would want to see any plans the committee has for the future events before saying anything further.”

Marlborough Town Council, which learned of the festival's decision from the Gazette, says it is satisfied the road closure this weekend and next weekend for the annual Mop Fairs will ensure public safety.

The High Street will be closed from Friday for the fair to set up and is shut on Saturday and Sunday.

Town clerk Shelley Parker said: “The cancellation of the jazz festival is very disappointing news for the town council, which has always stressed its support for the festival and its continuing success.”

"Wiltshire Council issue the traffic orders for temporary road closures and the town council are consultees in the process.

“The town council was consulted about the Mop Fairs and was happy with the safety arrangements. The set-up for the Mops is very thorough as it involves a lot of equipment that needs to be checked to meet health and safety regulations. The Showmen’s Guild works to an extensive management plan with risk assessments, etc.

The festival, which has been an important event in the town’s calendar since 1986, is estimated to have brought millions of pounds in business to the town. Drawing crowds of up to 200,000 from all over the country, it is seen not just as a big event for Wiltshire, but for jazz fans worldwide.