Rock festival to treble in size

Most tickets this year will be sold beforehand. Pic Gwalia Images

Organisers of a rock festival in rural Pembrokeshire have been told they can treble their capacity despite police warnings last year it was a "fiasco".

Police told a licensing hearing there were serious public order issues at the Celtic Blue Rock Festival at Trefawr Farm in Llanfyrnach in 2006.

But county councillors have agreed this year's event can go ahead with a 10,000 capacity, subject to conditions.

Organisers say a new ticket system and perimeter fencing will stop a repeat.

Dyfed-Powys Police asked Pembrokeshire Council to review the event's existing licence.

Police said that last year the number there far exceeded the 3,000 agreed limit, there were traffic problems and they claimed organisers "lost complete control" of the event.

Chief Inspector Les Clark told the hearing at Haverfordwest: "Last year my officers faced serious public order problems in a place where you would never expect such a thing."

A lot of promises have been made for this year's event but I'm afraid after the experience of last year Chief Inspector Les Clark

He said police officers had to withdraw from the area, fearing for their own safety.

"A lot of promises have been made for this year's event but I'm afraid whether these will be met after the experience of last year," he added.

But the organisers - Celtic Blue Rock Community Arts Ltd - told the hearing lessons had been learned.

They said the majority of the tickets would be pre-sold before this year's event on 3 to 5 August.

Two perimeter fences would also be erected around the site to stop people without tickets getting in.

They also agreed to more than 40 separate conditions suggested by the fire service, the council's public protection division and health and safety department.

The festival aims to support and promote established and up-and-coming bands and musicians from Pembrokeshire and Carmarthenshire.

As well as music, other entertainment includes street performers, dancing and craft stalls.

Organisers say it is an event aimed at people of all ages.

On Thursday councillors considered a separate application from the organisers to increase the capacity of the event to 9,999 people - which they agreed to.