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22:39 ........ 26 Nov
Licence Granted. 10 votes to 1 against. The same number of tickets as previous years.

We look forward to enjoying the festival with you.


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22:21 ........ 26 Nov
It has been moved to propose that the licence is granted with conditions. This motion has been seconded. Based upon what has been achieved it is phenomenal. They must consider the effects on the villagers.

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22:15 ........ 26 Nov
The entertainment of a very high standard and gives pleasure to many people.

Section 17 which has been a point of very exercised debate in the past has been raised, and the council respects it's responsbilities.

The site is suitable, and the nature of the entertainment excellent.The quality of life of the villagers must be improved. The services of the council are exemplary.

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22:12 ........ 26 Nov
Suggestion of a licence on alternative years, to give the villagers a break.

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22:07 ........ 26 Nov
The debate commences, now all havehad their say. Dick Skidmore, the ward councillor, described this as the largest event in the world that would not get a licence anywhere else. Melvin has performed miracles, but the site is not suitable. Nigel Woolcome-Adams, the portfolio holder, said it was a very successful event but that the council must not be complacent. Many state the positive effects for the village.

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21:51 ........ 26 Nov
Melvin responded to public with some factual corrections. During the wind-up he stated this festival is different and unique from any other in the world that he is involved in, and it's place is in Pilton. In relation to specific criticisms MB stated that whilst MeanFiddler is a large plc that makes a profit for it's shareholders and staff, during his involvement the contributions to charity have doubled. It's a world class event and he asked for the licence to be granted so that Glastonbury 2004 can go ahead.

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21:21 ........ 26 Nov
Public contributions to the debate included the parish council who raised the issue that night noise and traffic management not sufficient. Lots of letters support the festival from the village but have many buts. Size of festival impacts villagers lives in the time taken to prepare as well as during the festival. It would be better if festival could be an exclusion zone. Some villagers very fed up. a major source of noise was the vehicles on the trackway. The working relationship between police, festival and council is outstanding. The council is stretched to the limit. The chair of the police authority asked to raise the issue of costs, in future the costs of the courts and policing wider area. Waste management in local area recycles 14%, and we should use the opportunity to win the hearts and minds of the age group present and raise the level of recycling.

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21:14 ........ 26 Nov
Melvin response that Fence were not built 24 hours. No other responses.

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21:08 ........ 26 Nov
Police and Fire have made no objections, and recommended licence can be safely awarded. In response to questions police suggested that phasing of traffic lights can be improved to stop gridlock, welcome measures to stop non ticket holders getting on site, crime in tented areas addressed, reduction of security due to less time difference from solstice so security staff requiredfor less time. Cost of police covered entirely by festival for event and village. Emergency compund crowded but this to be investigated. Firewood being provided stops more dangerous substances being burnt. Camping density monitored and felt to be tolerable from a fire prevention perspective, and were never dangerous.

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20:19 ........ 26 Nov
Enviromental Health Officer set out specific recommendations. Sanitary provison needs some specific improvements, food markets very well managed for several years, seperation of vehicles and pedestrians necessary, crime reduction must continue. There are no objections to the application. Voluntary agreements entered into by the festival all met. The camping density has exceeded event safety guide limits, the campsite monitor has noted a significant improvement in distribution of tents across the site. The emptying of the slurry lagoon was checked by the enviroment agency, who reported it clean. The allegation of odour offences was found to be unfounded that human sewage had been spread on the fields.

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19:57 ........ 26 Nov
The risk of a total evacuation of the site being necessary is very unlikely. The crowd dynamyics audit confirmed that the number of emergency exits was more than adequate. The major incident plan handles many scenarios. The festival will investigte an arrangement to contribute to the cost of CCTV in Glastonbury. The festival is insured and underwrites the applicant.

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19:52 ........ 26 Nov
Tickets security is being considered, and options such as ticketless and photographs are being considered. There is an overall decrease of 4% in security numbers. The enviroment agency will be putting effort into the planning, and they will have access to the data taken by the festivals data collecting team.

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19:42 ........ 26 Nov
Melvin is taking questions. The health care in the dance tent will be improved. The pub will be closed and the shop will not sell beer. The applicant is Melvin Benn personally, and not Mean Fiddler. Melvin & Michael are joint directors of the promoting company. The helicopters are a private operation separate from the festival. Only police and medical emergency helicoptors can overfly the site for safety reasons. Melvin has little control over it, but intends to exercise what influence he can.

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19:36 ........ 26 Nov
Melvin rounded up by addressing the concerns of consultees. Security checks will be completed to register all security personell with Avon & Somerset constabulary. Fire service raised 8 points of concern that will be actioned. More signage for first aid points. The cost of Festival Medical Services will be borne by the festival and not the local health care trust as in the past. Security and police numbers in the village will be the same, as will the fence line. Only vehicles driven by a member of Melvins staff will be allowed to drive through the village onto thesite to improve the control of drivers speed.

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19:20 ........ 26 Nov
Campervan and carparks more secure, and crime lower. H&S to be handled by Event Safety Shop again. Crime reduction will be managed by problem analysis triangle model. Commitment to crime reduction is as big as last year.

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19:16 ........ 26 Nov
MB continues: We are seeking to get quieter official fireworks, and all people with unauthorised fireworks either traders, staff or public will be ejected.

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19:02 ........ 26 Nov
Melvin Benn has risen to present the case as the applicant. The councillors who attended saw that the event in 2003 was very successful. The 2003 festival should be adopted as the baseline standard. There are a number of proposed changes. 1) Licence management staff will remain after the end of the licensed period to cover noise issues. 2) Site design improved around Lost Area to cope with high numbers of people 3) Footpaths were closed for longer than they should have been 4) Fire exits in backstage areas to be brought up to the same standard as front of house 5) There will be two village liaison officers 6) Reduction of conflict between vehicles and pedestrians 7) Audit of all vehicle movements, and crowd movement - to identify if all vehicle movements are necessary. 8) Additional lighting in the camping areas 9) Better control of LPG storgage 10) Toilets will have greater holding capacity to reduce vehicle movement 11) Measures to reduce urinating in streams worked, we will employ our own enviromental monitoring team to ensure standards are met 12) An enviromental policy is being developed 13) Recycled waste up to 8% and will be increased further with a strong intention to meet European standard. More waste removed than ever before making the site cleaner 14) There were 19 noise complaints which seems reasonably low, there will be better coordination to improve control

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18:54 ........ 26 Nov
The chairman has received a number of very supportive letters, and an email from the executive of Radio Avalon.

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18:49 ........ 26 Nov
The report on the 2003 festval has been presented. All statutory consultees had no objections, but did have issues to be considered in the future. It is proposed to include "milestone" conditions to set out clearly important aspects of the application, and make the license subject to these being completed.

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18:28 ........ 26 Nov
You can also see live coverage on www.efestivals.co.uk

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18:20 ........ 26 Nov
The room is filling up. The mood is good. We're just waiting for the meeting to commence...

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20:00 ........ 25 Nov
Updates from the meeting will appear here from 6.30pm on Wednesday, November 26th.