A LOCAL festival could be under threat with a Lichfield District Council licensing hearing to decide whether the event can go ahead.
Wibbly Woods is scheduled to take place at Fradley Wood on Gorse Lane from 3rd to 7th September.
The annual event, which started in 2021 following the lifting of lockdown restrictions, aims to showcase "creative arts, music and mindfulness" alongside food stalls and small businesses.
Around 400 people are expected to attend.
This year, organisers submitted a Temporary Event Notice (TEN) to the council and said the timings for the event would be Thursday 4pm to midnight, Friday and Saturday 11am to 4am and Sunday 11am to midnight.
However, the Environmental Health department objected on grounds relating to the prevention of public nuisance.
In objecting, they said that last year’s event received more than 230 complaints, which they say represents one complaint for every two people paying to attend.
They added that the noisiest event at Beacon Park generated 12 complaints, despite being surrounded by more homes.
The Environmental Health objection said:
"Since the first Wibbly Woods event in 2021 there have been numerous noise issues.
"In its first year we did not object and undertook monitoring. The findings were that the noise was very loud and we received multiple complaints from residents, including up to 1.4 miles away.
"In 2022, an administrative failure meant that the event was not objected to so an Abatement Notice was served on the basis of likelihood of nuisance. This still stands. Noise levels during this event were audible up to 2.6 miles away including in Wychnor, Alrewas and Elmhurst. Again, numerous noise complaints from residents were received.
"In 2023 a TEN was applied for with the event running until midnight, with music stopping at 11pm instead of the usual 4am. This was objected to by the Environmental Protection team. However, it was allowed to go ahead.
"Monitoring took place and the music exceeded the licensable hours which had been applied for, with music continuing until 2am on the Friday and Saturday nights.
"Further noise complaints were received after this event. We have no trust in the management of the event sticking to any agreed reduced hours in future."
The event was due to be held in Loughborough following an agreement with the director of Wibbly Woods, with an agreement that legal action would not be pursued.
But a decision has now been made to bring the event back to Gorse Lane.
The council’s Environmental Health team is now seeking an injunction to stop Wibbly Woods taking place in a move they say will protect thousands of residents from noise nuisance.
Members of Lichfield District Council’s Licensing and Consents Appeals Committee will decide on whether the event can go ahead when they meet at 11am on 12th August.
