Epsom concert plan a step closer

A local council will decide in November if the concerts can go ahead

A plan to hold two 30,000 capacity concerts at Epsom Downs in Surrey has been approved by Downs Conservators.

The group, set up to protect the site, decided at a meeting on Wednesday that the two shows could go ahead, subject to a number of conditions,

The events, organised by Epsom Downs Racecourse for 13 and 14 June 2009, must now be approved by Epsom and Ewell Borough Council.

The first show would feature pop acts while the second would be classical.

Noise control

Nick Blofeld, who represents Epsom Downs Racecourse on the board of 10 Conservators, welcomed the decision.

"We're very pleased but we're not counting our chickens, the next stage has to be agreed with the council," he said.

"We wouldn't pursue anything if it had a negative effect on the downs," he added.

The Conservators group is made up of six members of Epsom and Ewell Borough Council, three Epsom Downs Racecourse representatives, and a racecourse trainer.

The idea to hold a classical concert and not a two-day pop event was one of the conditions it laid down.

It also set out concerns about car park planning and noise control for the events.

Epsom and Ewell Borough Council will meet on 12 September to decide if the concerts can go ahead.