EXMOOR'S new music event, the Samphire Festival, could be in jeopardy as the organisers have still not been given a formal licence to hold the event, despite the fact it is due to take place next weekend.

A meeting of West Somerset District Council's licensing sub-committee is currently ongoing in Williton where Avon and Somerset Police are appealing for the festival not to be granted a licence, citing a number of concerns.

Around 1,000 people are due to attend the festival running next weekend however the police have concerns about the site location and detail of planning that has been presented.

Speaking at this morning's meeting, solicitor Robert Cohen, representing Avon and Somerset Police, has outlined the force's concerns regarding traffic management, the accessiblity of the site, and the level of detail in the festival's evacuation policy, child protection policy and drugs and alcohol policies.

Robert Sutherland, who is the solicitor representing Samphire, has attempted to allay these concerns one by one and cited the fact that the highways, fire and ambulance authorities were all content with the planning of the festival.

However just before the meeting broke for lunch he asked if there was anything the organisers could do which would allow the police to support the licence application.

Mr Cohen responded: "The police feel this site is incompatible with an event of this size in these circumstances."

The sub-committee has adjourned the decision until Monday morning.

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