One of Tenterden’s biggest annual events was nearly forced to cancel this year.

Tentertainment is an annual free music festival, usually held on the first weekend of July, which has been running for over 10 years and attracts thousands to the recreation ground.

However, Tenterden Town Council (TTC) recently imposed new conditions on the popular event – just weeks before this weekend’s event.

The new terms wanted to minimise the noise for residents living near the site by moving the main stage from the side near Sandy Lane to the centre of the recreation ground.

However, the suggested movement caused health and safety issues, site access problems and event organisers say it would have worsened the noise for residents as it would direct the speakers towards their properties.

Tentertainment organiser Jo Gadsby said “Through working and running the event for 10 years we have refined the set-up and suddenly we were told to move it all.

“At one point we thought we’d have to cancel, but we resolved that issue with the help of Phil Burgess, the Tenterden town clerk.

“However, the other terms limit us in our finish time and more importantly volume.”

Under the new rules, the music cannot be louder than 65db and has to be stopped before 10pm.

“The sound level restriction is the most worrying issue,” said Jo, adding: “We do monitor levels but open air events are very difficult as wind direction, cloud cover and no ‘walls’ make uncontained music hard to consistently monitor.”

The event is definitely going ahead this year, but the added pressures means there is doubt as to whether it will be returning.

Jo added: “We always meet afterwards to decide, but this year we need to add the impact of the new terms, the upcoming plans for the reorganisation of the recreation ground, as well as our usual takings and attendance rates.

“We hope to continue for many more years, but whether that is possible or what form the festival will have to take has to be discussed fully after this year’s event.

“None of us are paid to do this. We are volunteers who dedicate a lot of time and work to staging this event.

“If it becomes something far less than it should be, and we continue to face constant opposition, we’d be daft not to question our time spent doing it.”

Tentertainment begins tomorrow (Friday) at 6pm and continues this Saturday and Sunday.