New festival in Northamptonshire’s Deene Park gets approval from council
The organisers of a new independent music festival in Northamptonshire have been granted a licence by the council for a three-day event later this year.
Deene Park is set to host The Ground Rules Festival from June 19 to 22.
The details of the premises proposal were discussed by the North Northamptonshire Council (NNC) licensing panel, after concerns were raised by nearby residents about the effects of loud, late-night music and anti-social behaviour from attendees.
Under the licence, which was green-lit today (Thursday, Feburary 26), live and recorded music will be played between 11am and 4am on the first two nights, with an earlier finish of midnight on Sunday evening agreed.
Local residents submitted five objections to NNC and a further two were lodged by the parish council and Priors Hall Neighbourhood Association.
Many raised concerns about previous festivals held at the same venue, which caused ‘significant disturbance’ for residents, and concerns that nearby homeowners may have to put up with the same issues again.
Linda Whatling, a local resident and parish councillor for Deene and Deenethorpe, told the committee: “We have lived through the noise from the Illusive festival for the last nine years. We have been subjected to booming noise and the majority of residents are over 75.
“Why have we got to wait until 4 o’clock in the morning to go quiet? It’s totally unacceptable.”
Festival organiser and designated premises supervisor for the event, Guy Freeman-Pow, said: “I’m really sorry about the history you’ve had with Illusive. I want to assure you that we are taking a completely different approach to this.
“We are much smaller, we are a third of the size, we have half the amount of stages and I’d like to think the suppliers we have got in are much more professional and we have worked with them previously and trust them.
“There have been many, many comments supporting us, asking for local tickets, which we have discount tickets on sale for locals.
“We are really trying to be more professional, more communicative and morally and ethically better than the previous applicants were.”
The website for the festival says: “Ground Rules is a new independent festival focused on sound system culture, music that makes you wiggle and wild & wacky side quests.
"Our crew is passionate about raving, and we’ve spent the last 8 years carefully compiling all of our best raving experiences, so we can pour them all into this festival.
“This festival is for the ravers out there who, like us, love nothing more than boogying with their mates to fantastic tunes.”
The festival will open to attendees at 11am on Friday, June 19, for camping and people will have to be off-site by midday on Monday, June 22.
The licensing panel ultimately chose to approve the licence for the event.
Conditions imposed on the festival include a noise management plan to be agreed and further engagement with the safety advisory group.