could BoomTown Fair's home be under threat?

BoomTown Fair 2015

Thursday 13th to Sunday 16th August 2015
Matterley Estate, near Winchester, Hampshire, SO21 1HW, England MAP
tier 3 - £155 for the weekend

Daily capacity: 45,000

The future of the home of BoomTown Fair, the immersive, theatrical and artistic festival with an on going narrative for around 45,000 festivalgoers is under threat. The event takes place at Matterley Estate, nr. Winchester, in Hampshire but Matterley's ability to hold events in future years of any duration has been thrown into doubt.

The event which will run from Thursday 13th until Sunday 16th August 2015 is one of a number of major events held at the Hampshire location owned by Peveril Bruce. The local planning authority, the South Downs National Park Authority (SDNPA) has refused a lawful development certificate for non-agricultural events to be held on his for more than 28 days a year, and the landowner could face legal action if the rule is breached, as reported by The Southern Daily Echo (here).

The news that there has been a refusal of the certificate of lawfulness is indeed correct, and the owner has two options next year to submit a new planning application, or rearrange all their events to stay within the 28 day maximum limit - that includes the time setting each event up.

BoomTown have released a statement which they sent to Southern Daily Echo which said,

"As far as we are aware the landowner has been in lengthy discussions with the SDNPA and the City Council regarding the application and the decision for it to be refused has come rather abruptly in what was perceived to be an ongoing process to understand the benefit of the individual events held at Matterley with regards to economic and cultural input.

BoomTown has not been privy to these negotiations but we have been assured by the landowner, who is in frequent contact with the relevant authorities and continuing the discussion to try to reverse the decision, that the 2015 event will not be affected.

We are unaware of who the complainants are in this situation or what issues were raised but over the past few years BoomTown Fair has worked very closely with the local residents that are most affected by the event, holding regular meetings and issuing monthly newsletters to involve all interested parties in our planning process with regards to key issues such as Traffic Management, Noise Control and Community relations.

We are sorry to hear this decision has been made, not just for BoomTown but all the other rich cultural events that take place at Matterley both historically and in present day, from the US Army Boxing tournament in 1944 to the past 18 years of some of the UK’s premier music and sporting events it is clear that Matterley is an important site and one that should be celebrated.

As mentioned above this is still very much an ongoing matter and organisers have no further facts at this stage concerning next year's event. We'll bring you more news once we have it, but at least this year's event will still happen.

BoomTown's line-up includes Stephen Marley, Noisia, Flogging Molly, Gogol Bordello, Caravan Palace, Streetlight Manifesto, Fishbone, The Beat, Dub Pistols, Slamboree, Dubioza Kolektiv, Matisyahu, Alborosie, Cham feat. O, Turbulence, Cutty Ranks, Ward 21, Katchafire, David Rodigan, Natty, Gentleman's Dub Club, Chopstick Dubplate presents Jah Mason & Demolition Man, Mungos Hi Fi, The John Butler Trio, Amadou & Mariam, Dreadzone, Transglobal Underground, Peatbog Faeries, Edward II, Songhoy Blues, Ibibio Sound Machine, Infected Mushroom, Ace Ventura, Perfect Stranger, Juno Reactor, Stephen Marley, Soja, Matisyahu, Alborosie & Shengen Clan, Barrington Levy, Anthony B, Protoje & The Indiggnation, Black Uhuru, Cham feat. O, Cutty Ranks, Turbulence, Ward 21, Katchafire, David Rodigan, Shy FX & Stamina, Chopstick Dubplate presents Jah Mason & Demolition Man, Natty, Gentleman's Dub Club, Mungos Hi Fi feat YT & Charlie P, The Heatwave, Serial Killaz, General Levy, Aba Shanti Soundsystem, RSD featuring Joe Peng, Gorgon Sound, Benny Page, O.B.F & Shanti D, Capdown, King Prawn, The Mahones, Mouse Outfit ft Sparkz, Dr Syntax & Pete Cannon, Cheeba, First Degree Burns, Tantz, Black Friday, Seas of Mirth, Johnny Kowalski & The Sexy Weirdos, Woohoo Revue, Formidable Vegetable Soundsystem, and more.

The festival is made up of eight very different districts and 22 stages, which celebrate a variety of individual music genres and cultures from Ska to Jungle, Reggae to Folk and a whole load more in between and beyond, the line ups are released district by district.

For the line-up details as available see the BoomTown Fair, line-up page.

Tier Three tickets are still available starting at £155 (+BF & EcoBond) plus there is the split payment option starting from £40, where you can pay off as little or as much as you like in instalments until 1st July 2015.

Teen residency pass (aged 13 - 17 years): £120 & ecobond deposit
Child (aged 6 - 12 years): £20
Infant (aged under 6 years): free

Campervan pass: £50
Caravan / Trailer tent pass: £60
Family car, campervan or caravan parking passes are also available.

buy tickets now >

There is an option to donate £2, £5 or £10 to the event's charity partners for 2015, all donations are matched by BoomTown.

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