No action against Boomtown Festival in 2015
Winchester City Council, acting on behalf of the South Downs National Park Authority, says it is not intending to initiate any planning enforcement action that might prevent the Boomtown Festival from going ahead in 2015.
The announcement is designed to clarify the position regarding this year’s event and follows a recent decision to refuse a lawful development certificate for non-agricultural events at Matterley Estate near Winchester for more than 28 days a year.
Given the short time before the Festival in August, and the substantial number of people who would be affected by any change to the event, the City Council, which acts as planning enforcement agent for the South Downs National Park Authority, has agreed with the Authority that any enforcement issues should not affect this year’s event which has been planned for many months.
In light of the refusal of the lawful development certificate discussions involving the City Council, National Park Authority and landowner will be needed to consider the planning implications of future events at the Matterley Estate.