Farmers' music festival opposed

Bill Pryce and Nigel Lloyd say the concert will be a family event

Plans for a mini Glastonbury festival catering for up to 60,000 people in a village near Wrexham have angered local people.

Two farmers want Robbie Williams to headline the event which they hope will take place this summer.

They say people in Wrexham need a boost after the riots on the Caia Park housing estate.

However, residents argue the concert will have disastrous consequences and have set up a campaign group.

Bill Pryce and Nigel Lloyd are planning the three day open air festival called Rex Live for 23- 25 July.

The infrastructure cannot cope. There's only one pub and two shops. The noise will be unbelievable Morag Browning

Bryn-y-Grog Hall which Mr Pryce owns in Marchwiel will be the main venue for the event for which a music and alcohol licence is being sought.

After the foot-and-mouth outbreak in 2001, Mr Pryce says farmers have been encouraged to look at diversification and can use their land in alternative ways for up to 28 days each year.

Last June local residents and Iraqi Kurd refugees clashed in riots on Caia Park.

Fifty one people have now appeared in court over the violence and Mr Pryce says the music festival would be something positive for the town.

Robbie Williams has been approached about the concert

"Wrexham people are the salt of the earth and we're here to prove it. After the riots in Caia Park I think it's time we enjoyed ourselves," he said.

"You don't need to worry about drugs and alcohol. We've had riots in Wrexham but this will be a nice family venue.

Mr Pryce said he had already spoken to Robbie Williams about the festival and was looking for other acts - including the Pop Idol stars - to support it.

Land belonging to Mr Pryce and Mr Lloyd will be used to stage the festival.

Up to 60,000 people could be accommodated said Mr Pryce, many of them camping out on the farmers' land.

More than 100 people in Marchwiel have voiced their opposition at a community meeting.

Bryn-y-Grog Hall is a Wrexham landmark

"The overwhelming majority of the meeting rejected the plans for a pop concert," said spokeswoman Morag Browning.

"It is very worrying because there's no way we can stop people swarming over our homes."

She said Bryn-y-Grog hall was on a busy trunk road and the festival would mean that people in the neighbourhood would be "trapped for three days".

"The emergency services wouldn't be able to get through. The promoters say they expect 12,000 cars daily.

"The infrastructure cannot cope. There's only one pub and two shops. The noise will be unbelievable.

"There's a lot of livestock in the area and the security issue is frightening local people," she added.

Mr Pryce, who attended Monday's meeting, reassured residents about the event, saying "we just want to get out there and enjoy ourselves".