The organiser of a three-day car and music festival in Suffolk has said he feels 'bullied out' of his chosen venue by villagers concerned about noise and traffic associated with the event.
Ross Crabb, who organises the Beetle-Juiced Festival through his company R&D Events, revealed he was now looking to change the planned venue for the July festival from Monewden Airfield to a new location because of the complaints.
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The extravaganza, which has been held in previous years at Stonham Barns and Glemham Hall, features displays of Volkswagen (VW) cars, live music, professional BMX stunt displays, a fairground and children's entertainment.
However, the decision to move to the airfield has caused a row with villagers who do not feel the narrow country lanes in the area are suitable for the VW cars.
Their complaints have been picked up by Central Suffolk and North Ipswich MP Dan Poulter and representatives of Cretingham, Monewden and Hoo Parish Council, who have written to East Suffolk Council to call for a licensing application for the festival to be rejected.
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But Mr Crabb said he had decided to find a new site for the event because he was not 'out to make enemies or be anti-social,' adding that some of the villagers had made up 'lies' about his event, including that drag racing was taking place.
"We feel like we have been bullied out of the airfield and it was going to go to a licensing hearing anyway because there were objections, but I am not willing to go to a hearing and put my point across to people who are going to lie," he added.
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So far, 60 per cent of the 1,200 tickets for the festival have been sold, but Mr Crabb said tickets booked for the Monewden event, set to be held from July 28-30, will be transferred to the new venue, while refunds will be offered for those who can not make the new location.
He added: "I decided that Glemhall Hall was not the right venue for the event, so I made the call to the owners of Monewden Airfield and got on fantastically with them and it felt right. It was rural and I thought there were fewer neighbours to upset and it seemed like a great venue.
"The airfield owners were also grateful for the extra revenue and after moving from venue to venue, we started to feel settled at the airfield and we are massively disappointed that that isn't the case and it isn't going to work out."
However, the parish council's chair Alister Gourlay said a similar one-day VW event had been held at the airfield in May, which caused noise disturbance and traffic problems and he was particularly concerned about emergency vehicles being able to get through.
He added a parish councillor on a bike ride was unable to get into the airfield during the event because of the number of cars parked on the road.
"I certainly would not characterise the residents' response as 'bullying'. I think some concerned residents have made representations to East Suffolk licensing and the parish council has made presentations.
"That is their right, just as it is his right to apply for a license," Mr Gourlay said.
In his letter, Dr Poulter said he had been contacted by residents complaining about the event, which would see 'thousands of car enthusiasts' descend on the airfield.
He added: "An event of this scale and duration is completely unacceptable for a number of reasons, not least of all because Monewden airfield lacks the road and other required infrastructure to support an event of this size.
"It is totally unacceptable that local residents would face such significant overnight noise and disruption for three consecutive days and I have urged East Suffolk Council to reject this application.”
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