The saga of the cancelled Rock’n’Roots music festival took a further twist this week as a political group leader accused Herefordshire Council of being more interested in its own bureaucracy than the enjoyment and pleasure of its citizens.
Lib Dem leader Councillor Terry James has written an angry letter to council chief executive Chris Bull, accusing the council of insisting on observing the letter, rather than the spirit of the law.
He says in the letter that it appeared that the only reason the council refused to licence the festival, which was to have been held over the bank holiday weekend at Much Marcle, was that it had not been sufficiently advertised in the press.
“It is quite clear a number of articles had been printed by the local press, and promotional advertisements took place – also in the local press”, says his letter.
“It is almost certain that no-one in the vicinity of Much Marcle would have been unaware of the event, and all residents would have been well able to have made their objections or support clear.
“At a time when our economy is struggling, and people in this county are travelling large distances outside Herefordshire to attend such events, we can ill afford such a pedantic and officious attitude to prevail,” he says.
Councillor James says he knew a number of people who had made their bank holiday plans around the festival and who felt “deeply let down” by the council, which, he said, had used “its own bureaucratic systems and processes to cause major disappointment to thousands of Herefordshire residents, as well as damaging the reputation of the county as a venue for festivals.”
But in a letter to the Journal, Councillor Barry Durkin, who represents the ward including Much Marcle on Herefordshire Council, says there were “blatant attempts by the organiser – Mr Stephens – to blame everybody for the cancellation other than himself”.
Conservative Councillor Durkin said it was fundamental to obtain a licence to stage an event, and was not about council “pedantry” but about ensuring the safety of those attending and in the area of the event, and of informing all who need to know.
There was “a litany of shortcomings”, he said, including incorrect and inappropriate advertising in the press and around the site, very late submission to the police, and Mr Stephens’ delivery was some four days late, which meant the regulatory committee had no option but to decide that the law had not been complied with and that it was not appropriate to consider a licence.
“Quite simply, it is for the applicant to consult with the relevant authorities and provide all necessary information in a timely manner,” he writes.
“The fact that Herefordshire was deprived of the pleasure of listening to and watching some very talented musicians is quite simply the responsibility of Mr Stephens”, says his letter.
He organised a public meeting for the event organiser to meet Much Marcle residents, but, he said, Mr Stephens did not convince those in attendance that the event should be held as proposed.
Council officers had bent over backwards, and provided “unstinting assistance”.
“Hopefully this ‘blame game’ can now be seen for what it is, a subterfuge to excuse bad organisation by the organiser,” he said.
lThe Journal Says Page 4
