10:23pm Friday 25th April 2008
By Samrana Hussain
A CONTROVERSIAL Pagan music festival faces additional restrictions after residents challenged a council's decision to grant it a licence.
Pendle Council's decision to give the go-ahead to the organisers of the Shamania Lugnasadh festival was challenged over claims the festival would create traffic, noise and nuisance problems.
The Gisburn Old Road site, in Blacko, is one of the locations put forward for the three-day festival beginning on July 27.
But a final decision on where the "mini-Glastonbury Festival" will be held has not yet been made by organisers because a music licence has also been granted for the Noggarth Hill site, in Roughlee.
A district judge has now limited the number of festival goers to 1,500 people at the review hearing at Reedley Magistrates Court on Thursday.
Last year's festival attracted around 1,300 people.
An additional three conditions imposed relate to traffic management and the issuing of a limited number of parking permits for the three day festival which organisers Enlightened Entertainments hope to turn into a major Pagan-themed music event for the north.
Organisers have up to two months before the festival takes place to notify the council where it will be held.
Chris Storey Licensing officer at Pendle Council said: "It was no surprise the licence was granted and hopefully it will go without any incidents.
"Having spoken to the organisers they are not sure which site will be used.
"The conditions are not onerous and they don't want a massive festival.
"There is also the possibility of another site."
Adrian Lord, managing director of Enlightened Entertainments Ltd, said he was happy they could fulfil the conditions imposed should the festival be held at the Blackho site.
Mr Lord said: "We are happy with the conditions including the one imposing a capacity limit of 1,500 people."
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