Knockout blow for joint festival at Haslingden FC (From Lancashire Telegraph)

Knockout blow for joint festival at Haslingden FC

5:00pm Wednesday 11th July 2012 in Rossendale By Chris Adams

A BOXING and music festival planned for a Haslingden football ground has been cancelled by its organisers.

Eleven letters of objection were received after the event, due to be held on August 18 at Haslingden FC’s old home in Manchester Road, was announced in May.

Applicant Stephen Sourbutts withdrew his bid for a premises licence at the last minute ahead of a scheduled Rossendale Council hearing.

The amount of opposition made him re-think the idea.

But he hopes to return with a renewed plan next year.

He said: “We didn’t want to have the application accepted then do a rushed job of making everything click.

“We took some independent advice and spoke to the council and decided to withdraw the application and plan for next year. This way we can give our-selves more time to iron things out with residents and put their minds at ease.

“We don’t want to upset anyone and we don’t want to do this half-heartedly.”

Among those who made objections to the council’s licensing officers were Coucillors Anne Cheetham, Gladys Sandiford and Granville Morris, as well as representations from Lancashire police and the council’s own environmental health department.

Parking problems, fears of drunken behaviour and noise pollution were the main concerns.

Mr Sourbutts added that he “could understand” why some people had issues with the festival, which had hoped to attract 1,500 people to the Rising Bridge venue.

He added: “Not all people realise our intentions.

“We want this to be properly policed and stewarded, and not just as a one-off either.

“We want to create something exciting for the people of the Valley.

“We’ll be back next year with a much more detailed plan.”

Shortly after the festival was announced, a fire destroyed the roof of the clubhouse when arsonists set alight a rubbish container.

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