A farm which hosts the annual Secret Garden Party festival, has been granted a new licence to hold more large and smaller scale events.

An application was made by Backwoodsman Ltd to hold three large events a year at Grange Farm in Abbots Ripton, as well as an unlimited number of smaller events.

Concerns were raised by some living nearby about the noise the events could create, with some arguing it would disturb people’s sleep.

Huntingdonshire District Council granted the licence, but only for a period of three years, and limited the number of smaller events that could be held.

Under the licence three large scale events can be held per year with up to 19,999 people attending. These events can include live music, recorded music, dance performances, plays, films, and the sale of alcohol.

The smaller events can have a capacity of 4,999, and can also include plays, film showings, live music, recorded music, dance performances, and the sale of alcohol.

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Luke Elford, the solicitor representing the company behind the plans, told a meeting of the district council’s licensing sub-committee this week (May 11), that the applicant had over 20 years of experience putting on events at the site.

He said that while maximum capacity limits had been set for the events, this did not mean every event would reach the limit. Mr Elford gave the example that a 6,000 person event would count as one of the three large scale events.

He added that the only one large event could be held a month, and that they could also not take place on consecutive weekends, saying it was accepted that “people need respite from large events”.

Mr Elford said there would be a 90 day notification period before an event was held, and that conditions had been agreed to manage the noise.

He said he had heard concerns about a particular event which had been held at the site, and said the organisation behind that event would not be returning as the applicant was “not happy with their approach to noise”.

Mr Elford said the company would always accept advice from the highways department on how it could improve its traffic management plan, and said it did what it could to minimise the impact of the events held.

Freddie Fellowes, from Backwoodsman Ltd, said the company took an “active and reactive” approach to monitoring sound. He said they were “not waiting to hear complaints”, but would monitor the noise levels across the site and make adjustments if they noticed it peaking somewhere.

He added that the proposed licence would also give the company more control over the events held, rather than individual organisers applying for their own licence to hold events.

Mr Fellowes said the licence would see the company “taking all the responsibility on its shoulders”.

Councillor Steve Brown, from Abbots Ripton Parish Council said there had been a “significant” response from people in the area about the application.

He said people had concerns about “sleep depriving noise levels”, and about increased traffic in the area.

Cllr Brown said the concerns were not based on the “unknown”, but on people’s “lived experiences”.

He said the parish council did recognise the applicant’s desire to expand the business with mitigating measures.

Cllr Brown asked if the district council did approve the licence that it was for a limited period only, rather than an open ended approval, so that the area could see if the mitigation measures worked.

Leslie Castleton, from Kings Ripton, said noise from events was her main concern. She said: “At times it has been very noisy and we have not been able to sleep at night.

“You can hear people screaming, shouting and the incessant drum beating which when you are up at night hearing that, it is very hard to get back to sleep.”

Hannah Carter said when she moved to Abbots Ripton she had been aware of the Secret Garden Party and said she had understood this festival would take place once a year and was “part of the fabric of the village”.

However, she said there had been an increase in the number of events held, and said it was having an effect on her young family’s life.

She said she understood the wish to diversify the business on the site, but said she had concerns the farm would become more of a “show ground” if the licence was approved.

Ms Carter said she was concerned about the potential for an unlimited number of smaller events that could be held, and said it would be “unnerving” for people in the village not to know.

Mr Elford said the applicant would be happy to limit the number of smaller events to one a month if that would help ease people’s concern.

The sub-committee went into a private session to consider the application and the comments from both sides that had been made.

Returning to the meeting Councillor Stephen Ferguson said the sub-committee recognised communication had been an issue, which he said the applicant had agreed to address.

He said the traffic concerns raised were not considered to be relevant, as objections had not been raised by the organisations responsible for this area.

Cllr Ferguson said the sub-committee had agreed to grant the licence, but added a condition limiting the smaller events to one a month, and said the licence would be reviewed in three years time.