Glastonbury's expansion plans

Glastonbury Festival organiser Michael Eavis has told the Western Daily Press (here) some of the changes planned - subject to licence - for the 2007 festival.

It's hoped that the number of tickets on sale will increased to 137,500 - an increase of nearly a quarter, while the number of tickets of staff, traders and performers will increase to nearly 40,000. The extra tickets would be sold as combined coach-and-festival admission to ensure that the extra revellers don't clog the roads with cars.

It's also hoped to expand the site by around 100 acres, taking the total land used to around 1,200 acres. It's thought from comments by Emily Eavis to BBC 6 Music that part of the extra space will be used for a new acoustic stage - in her words, a "more folky" area.

New sound equipment is to be used, which Michael hopes will cause less distrubance to those living nearby. "We have got new loudspeaker equipment which we experimented with at the Classical Extravaganza, which doesn't transmit in the same way," he said. "It was used first at Kenwood House, Hampstead Heath. I went with my sound engineers to hear it - it will make a lot of difference. It worked a treat at the Extravaganza."

A draft application for the 2007 licence has been submitted to Mendip District Council and the Festival is hoping to win a four-year licence this year. Until now, they have had to apply for a licence each year but changes in the law make it possible for a longer licence to be granted. The licence hearing is expected to take place towards the end of this month.

Glastonbury Festival will take place at Worthy Farm, Pilton, Somerset from Friday 22nd to Sunday 24th June (with the gates opening on the Wednesday).

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