Objectors have warned Festival of House organisers to think twice about trying to return to Panmure Estate next year.
Organisers want to plan another event in 2017 despite pulling the plug on this year’s festival which was due to take place on June 10/11.
The festival was hoped to attract 15,000 music fans but the proposals were condemned as “incoherent” and “riddled with gaps” in a report which was due to go before councillors in Forfar on Friday.
Police Scotland highlighted “critical failings” in the festival plans while objections were also raised by Scottish Fire and Rescue which warned of “serious safety implications.”
Festival of House director Craig Blyth said “lessons can be learned by all parties” and they “look forward to planning another event timeously for next year”.
Panmure Estate resident Sandra Bancroft said: “He failed at every milestone and produced plans that were merely cut and pasted from other events.
“He was given extra time and still he couldn’t produce plans that would ensure a safe event.
“His fundamental problem was not listening to residents’ concerns.
“He missed the risks and then, when it was too late, failed to have a solution.
“Panmure is unique – its risks for unwary people will always be here, as will the very determined residents.
“We would advise Craig Blyth to look for another venue if he plans to hold a music festival in Angus next year.
“But I doubt that he retains any credibility.”.
Elspeth Stirling, secretary of conservation group Scottish Badgers, said: “In our assessment as an expert wildlife organisation, it certainly will not ever be safe to mount an event of that kind at Panmure – for site-specific reasons.
“However it remains to be seen whether the applicant could ever raise their competencies sufficiently to run a safe event anywhere else.
“The threat to the survival of the badgers and other wildlife would have been grave and it is important for Angus that we have seen this event withdrawn.”
Morag Stewart, who has lived on Panmure Estate for 41 years, said it was an environment where there was “potential for serious injury or worse”.
Wendy Murray of the charity East Haven Together said: “Given all the safety issues and the topography of the site and road infrastructure I am as optimistic as I can be that they will use an alternative site.
“Given the ferocious opposition they have been met with I don’t think they will want to risk having to cancel another major festival.
“In partnership with the residents we will certainly be progressing a number of initiatives to protect and conserve the environment in Panmure.”
https://www.thecourier.co.uk/fp/news/local/angus-mearns/163844/festival-of-house-warned-against-coming-back-to-panmure/
