Local festival plans spark objection

A new music festival is set to be staged near Stone this summer – but plans have not hit the right note with residents and community leaders.

The Rising, due to be held at Kibblestone Scout Campsite, will offer families the chance to enjoy outdoor pursuits such as rock climbing, abseiling, axe throwing and archery as well as live music.

As reported in February – New family festival “The Rising” pitches up in Staffordshire this July – acts already confirmed for the three-day event include Bob Vylan, Dub Pistols and Bluedot Festival favourites Henge.

Organisers aim to source food produced within 50 miles of the campsite, and the real ale bar is set to be run by local brewers.

The festival’s website states:

“The Rising is a new festival brought together by a few friends who met helping at another festival. We are delighted to have been introduced by a good friend to Kibblestone Scout Camp where there is plenty of fantastic infrastructure already in place including permanent toilets, showers, washing up facilities and with that has enabled us to keep our ticket prices as low as possible.

“We want to create a community and festival that encompasses sustainability, creativity, accountability and affordability. The Rising will be a 2,000 capacity festival, with several performance stages alongside creative spaces, assault courses and children’s academy.”

However, everyone has not welcomed the plans. Residents and Stone Rural Parish Council have raised concerns about the festival’s premises licence application to Stafford Borough Council.

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An Oulton resident said:

“Kibblestone Scout Camp has historically hosted scout camps and young campers from around the world. We have no complaints about the camp being used for its intended purpose or the occasional noise that we hear from scouts or young campers.

“However, this application for a music festival is a change to the sites intended use and should not be granted as it will be in contravention of the Environmental Protection Act 1990. The approval of this application will also set a precedent for future events of a similar nature that will cause constant stress and misery for all neighbours in the village.

“We have a right to be able to use our homes without a noise nuisance that prevents the use of our home and the enjoyment. There is no doubt that this festival will infringe those rights.”

The parish council, which received comments from residents in Oulton, said:

“Having consideration for the close proximity of the scout camp to the village, and in line with the licence of Oulton Village hall, the playing of recorded music should cease at 11:00pm. All activities on site (sale of alcohol, playing of music and sale of late-night refreshments) should be limited to 11:00pm so that noise from attendees exiting the site (on foot and by vehicles) is within reasonable hours.

“To further reduce noise nuisance at unreasonable hours from vehicles leaving the site, it is requested that vehicles be directed along Kibblestone Road away from the direction of the village and onto Longton Lane.”

Permission is being sought for a premises licence to operate for three days each year, with live music to be performed between 12:00pm and 11:00pm on the Friday and Saturday of each event and recorded music from 2:00pm to 12:30am on the Friday and Saturday and 12:00pm to 12:30am on Thursday.

Alcohol would be supplied between 2:00pm and midnight on the Thursday and 12:00pm to midnight on the Friday and Saturday, and late night refreshment offered between 11:00pm and 1:00am across all three days.

Conditions have already been agreed between Stafford Borough Council’s Environmental Health department and the applicant to address noise concerns. The council’s Licensing Sub-Committee will consider the application at a hearing on Tuesday, the 26th of March.