Glastonbury licence hearing - live updates

The Public Entertainment Licence hearing for this year's Glastonbury Festival is happening tonight. The application is for a Licence for 150,000 people, with 112,500 weekend tickets on sale to the general public, 3,500 Sunday tickets for locals, and 34,000 passes for performers, staff, etc.
(You can find some more details of the plans for 2005 here)

Subject to the granting of a licence, the Festival will open its gates on Wednesday 22nd June at 10am, with the entertainment happening from 10am Friday/Saturday/Sunday until 00:30 on Friday and Saturday nights, and midnight on Sunday.

Tickets are not yet on sale – they're currently expected on sale in early April, but this might change. All the ticketing details will be on this website as soon as known, so keep your eyes here over the next few weeks so that you don't miss out!

This page will have updates sent live from the licence hearing as things happen from around 5:45pm. Refresh this page every 15 minutes or so for the latest information.

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23:25pm : Last bit of news I forgot to include earlier: Michael Eavis said that 2006 would definitely be a year off, so make sure you don't miss out this year.

And Time Out are reporting that tickets will be on sale on Sunday 3rd April at 9am, costing £125 (plus a small booking fee), limited to two per person.

10:16pm : Final bit of news. Information relating to the tickets for this years festival is expected to be available in two weeks, and lastly the rumours of The Who appearing has been quashed by ME. They'll be playing V apparently. Neil will be writing up a full report of the evening as usual so be sure to check back for that tomorrow. Bye all


10:09pm : Michael Eavis expressed similar confidence to Melvin Benn that the application will not need amending. Let Hope so.
I'll sign off with that.

9:55 : Speaking to Neil at the meeting, Melvin Benn was confident of a good result at the subgroup - this meeting should be taking professional advice regards the noise levels/monitoring (so less anecdotal local input) which should be in the festivals favour and the application as stands be sufficient.

9:50 : Result of voting now in - application granted! But as below further discussions about noise at a later date by the subgroup.

9:46 : Hours and volumes to be decided by a subgroup at a later date...which surely means the vote will go for the application now

9:35pm : The debate appears to be coming round to the vote proper. there are 13 councillors on the board. With the wrangling over noise issues the PEL may not be resolved tonight

9:24pm : The sixth is FOR. Vote stands at either even stevens 3 - 3, or 4 - 2 against, I'm unclear which. Debate becoming circular and based on noise levels as some argue for cutting the hours and others say current levels sufficient to prevent nuisance

9:15pm : The fourth is FOR

9:12pm : The councillors against are having right old waffle ...allegedly

9.00pm : The councillors 'against' are pushing for a 00:30 (half past midnight) curfew on everything! This could be a spanner in the works...

8:57pm : The first councillor on the board is speaking and is against the licence application "as ever" - sounds like a regular nay sayer - issues with noise from the festival. No 2 has spoken - nothing inferred. Councillor No3 is against.

8:50pm : MDC's solicitor reminds the regualtory board what they must consider (and presumably what not)

8:45pm : Melvin Benn has been summing up to the board ahead of them having a discussion. The vote cannot be far away.

8:30pm : The first is hostile to A&S resources being used to police the festival. The second objects to the noise in Pilton. The third objects to 'all night' noise from the festival, as does the fourth...
Melvin Benn is replying to the public's comments robustly as always. Go Melvin!

8:16pm : There are five members of the public who have registered a wish to speak and they're getting their turn now...

8:05pm : Fire brigade have no objection, and neither do the Ambulance Service.

8:04pm : ...no objection to extra sunday tickets.

7:59pm : A & S continuing - "crime levels LESS at Glastonbury than in towns of comparable size"

7:50pm : Pilton pub and local shop to be closed for the duration of the festival (same as last year). MDC have no objections to the 3,000 extra Sunday tickets. Environmental Health Officer Chris Malcolmson supports the application.

Avon & Somerset's turn to speak - as stated, they're not opposing the licence - Cheif inspector Adrian Coombes sees improvements in the application and supports it. He feels the festival has `been 'overpoliced' in the past and is looking to make reductions

7:35pm : It's gone very quiet, I think they've all snook off for tea and biscuits without telling me. Grr... :)

7:05pm : Melvin Benn summing up - "not resting on his laurels"

6:50pm : Avon & Somerset Constabulary request a curfew on fireworks after 11pm. Family camping area to be increased to ease overcrowding last year

6:45pm : A proposed 3% increase in security personel, and better traffic management

6:36pm : As already reported the New Tent and the Dance Tent are to swap places, if the board approve it.
There will be greater seperation of tents and vehicles in both the camping and campervan areas.

6:28pm : Melvin Benn of GF/MF is now presenting the application. Confirmation of 3,000 extra sunday tickets
No extra performance hours but greater transparancy of what happens when in relation to noise control on the various stages with the aim of better noise reduction. Similarly there will be a crime reduction manager
Some staff campoing area to be re-located

6:20pm : The ambulance service [woops that should be the police, not ambulance] and fire brigade have no objections and also Pilton Parish council have no objection but have concerns about traffic and noise

6:15pm : MDC's Solicitor has outlined to the board what points to consider and licensing officer Jason Kirkwood has begun running through the licence application

6:10pm : The meeting is under way with 12 members of the regulatory board present (and therefore 12 votes). Emily Eavis not present.

6:00pm : Michael Eavis has arrived and cheerfully hopes for this to be 'easiest license yet'
Some prelimanry facts emerging already - the license fee asked for by Mendip District Council is the pert figure of £103,353.00p. 3,000 additional sunday tickets are being requested - the proceeds to go to the Asian Tsunami appeal

5:55pm : The meeting will be under wy soon (scheduled start 6pm) representatives from GF (Melvin Benn, Mark Cann) have been arriving in the last few minutes.

5:45pm : Good evening glasto fiends

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