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Police raise concerns over plans to hold four-day music festival at Great Lines Heritage Park, Gillingham over bank holiday weekend

Police have raised concerns about plans to host a four-day festival in a town centre park.

The events are due to take place at the Great Lines Heritage Park in Gillingham across the bank holiday weekend in May.

Great Lines Heritage Park, Gillingham is billed to host a four-day music festival
Great Lines Heritage Park, Gillingham is billed to host a four-day music festival

The organisers say one of the events would have space for 25,000 people.

According to its website, Stardust Festivals Ltd is "London's immersive festival brand. Bringing together music, entertainment, food and drink with a touch of magic."

The same company hosted an event called Dream Valley at Lydd Airport, near Ashford, last year.

The events planned in Gillingham are:

  • Friday, May 26 - classical orchestra with space for 5,000 people
  • Saturday, May 27 - dance music with space for 25,000 people
  • Sunday, May 28 - 80s, 90s and 00s music with space for 15,000 people
  • Monday, May 29 (Bank holiday) - family day with space for 15,000 people

The plans include five bars, a food court, and fairground rides including a carousel and a ferris wheel.

According to a report submitted to Medway Council's licensing hearing panel, one of the events, on Saturday, May 27, is planned to finish at 10.30pm.

The event organisers want to work with the council to set up road closures on Brompton Road and Malborough Road, which would be closed except for resident and emergency access.

They also say a park and ride service, or a park and walk scheme could be implemented. Attendees would not be able to camp at any of the events.

Police have written to the council to say it is concerned about the level of noise the festival will generate, how traffic could impact residents, and the effect pedestrians would have on the town centre as they make their way to the park from Gillingham station .

Stardust Festivals Ltd want to host a music festival at Great Lines Heritage Park, Gillingham, in May. Picture: Stardust LDN Facebook
Stardust Festivals Ltd want to host a music festival at Great Lines Heritage Park, Gillingham, in May. Picture: Stardust LDN Facebook

A report from the force also explains how the police at the event in Lydd Airport observed attendees were allowed admission despite having drugs on them.

The force says the medical tent was "considerably busy with incidents of over intoxication through probable drug misuse", there were "significant traffic delays" around the site which made ambulance access "difficult".

The police were also advised that people got through fences. Officers also investigated a report of GBH inside the festival.

The report explains how officers want more information regarding the suitability of proposed park and ride points which are the nearby universities campus, the Historic Dockyard, Lloyds Bank car park near the Dockyard, and the Pentagon.

The force is also concerned about plans to close Marlborough Road as this is used as a route to Medway Maritime Hospital.

"Such an event is likely to have a massive impact on police resources."

The report reads: "Balance of probability suggests a four-day music festival of up to 25,000 persons each day will generate a significant amount of crime, disorder, anti-social behaviour, and nuisance within the immediate area, namely Gillingham town centre and potentially to the neighbouring towns of Chatham and Rochester, all of which are only a short walk away.

"Such an event is likely to have a massive impact on police resources."

The report goes on to say how officers would like to see the event reduced to only one day, which would be treated as a "test event".

In response Stardust Festivals Ltd said it was "disappointed" in the police's decision to not support its plans.

It also said 10 people were treated at the Dream Valley event for drugs and alcohol related issues. The event was attended by 15,000 people.

Councillors will discuss the plans during a meeting next Friday.

Tickets for the event have not gone on sale but the festival's website offers a sign up page so anyone who is interested can be notified when tickets are live.

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