Beachdown will help boost brand

11:04am Monday 1st December 2008

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Fashion designer Wayne Hemingway has joined scores of people who have leapt to the defence of an under-fire music festival.

The Argus has received more than 100 letters and emails from fans of the Beachdown event, which was staged for the first time in August at Devil’s Dyke Farm, near Brighton.

Last week the festival came under criticism from residents in the neighbouring village of Fulking who have opposed a licence application by the organisers to stage it again next year.

They said there were problems with noise, traffic and parking.

But Mr Hemingway, founder of the Red Or Dead brand, countered the arguments and described Beachdown as a “valuable event” for Brighton.

He said: “I attended the festival with my wife, four children and friends.

“Despite the weather we had a wonderful time at a well-organised and inherently friendly festival.”

He said Beachdown promoted environmental and economic sustainability through promoting public transport, recycling and using local bands.

Mr Hemingway, from Chichester, said: “Beachdown can grow to be a well-known, positive addition to the Brighton brand. Give it a chance to mature.”

His sentiments were echoed by dozens more who said the festival, headlined by Fun Lovin’ Criminals, Gogol Bordello and The Magic Numbers, had been successful.

Organiser Joe Pidgeon has also made clear his ambitions for the event amid concern it would grow to become a new Glastonbury. He said the four-day festival, which had just 10,000 in attendance this year, would not grow beyond 20,000.

The residents of Fulking raised their concerns as Mid Sussex District Council prepared to decide whether to grant the licence. They described the festival as “an accident waiting to happen”, claiming the site was too steep.

The council will give a decision on December 11. The application can be viewed at www.midsussex.gov.uk.

The organisers hope to stage the festival in August for at least the next six years. They have a long-term agreement in place with the site’s owners to use it as a venue.

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