Big Kahuna festival backlash sparks village meeting

Concerns over plans for a controversial music festival near the A264 have sparked an unscheduled parish council meeting.
Forest site of the planned Big Kahuna music festival SUS-160222-132826001Forest site of the planned Big Kahuna music festival SUS-160222-132826001
Forest site of the planned Big Kahuna music festival SUS-160222-132826001

The Big Kahuna’s organisers announced up to 10,000 revellers are expected to go to the event in Holmbush Forest over the August Bank Holiday weekend.

Colgate & Faygate council called for an ‘extraordinary’ meeting at Colgate village hall at 6pm tomorrow (Wednesday February 24).

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Chairman Sheila Marley said about 20 residents had contacted the council over the plans in a week, with all but two opposing the plans citing noise and traffic concerns.

She said: “This is the first one to my knowledge we’ve had in the council for many many years.

“The residents want to air their views, some are quite heated, some, obviously, are not.

People are concerned because it’s the first time it’s happened.

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“The main concern is the traffic and the noise because the A264 is going to be busy and the noise - they’ve applied for a music licence until 3am in the morning.”

People were invited to an open debate over the festival at the meeting.

Its organisers have announced legendary rockers Happy Mondays will top the bill and nine themed areas in the forest with camping, theatre, silent disco, food, bars, bushcraft, interactive arts and crafts experiences, workshops and more had been planned.

Horsham District Council has received their licensing application to stage the event.

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