Festival organisers await licence

Grace Jones is one of the headline acts booked for this summer's festival

A decision on whether to grant a licence for a music festival in Sussex in the summer will be made this week.

Last year, 10,000 people attended the Beachdown Festival in the South Downs, on private farmland near Devil's Dyke.

Organisers of this year's event, over the August bank holiday weekend, have already booked headline acts, Grace Jones and Super Furry Animals.

But local residents have raised concerns about the impact on the area from an increase in traffic and noise.

Mid Sussex District councillors are considering a 300-page report, which includes the objections, at a three-day hearing.

If the festival gets the go-ahead there would be three stages, nine bars - some of which would be open until 0400 - a theatre and a dance tent, films and plays.

Spokesman Joe Pidgeon said they would be very careful to involve the local community in the run-up to the festival.

"This year we've actually got two parish councillors who've sent in letters of support for Beachdown," he said.

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