Public bus services along the A2 from Canterbury are very scanty. The organisers have indicated that coaches and buses will be used to bring people to the Festivals. These will either have to set down their passengers outside the Festival site, adding to the confusion at the junction, or take them into it, which will create additional problems, especially when they leave again to return to Canterbury for more passeng- ers. The nearest Railway Station to Charlton Park is at Bekesboume (some two miles away). This is an unmanned station, with no public transport available to the proposed site. 200"‘,000 people represent 10 Army divisions - without the discipline. A daily sick fall out of 2,000 must be anticipated. It is unreasonable to imagine that the on-site medical staff of 3 doctors and 4 nurses mention- ed by the organisers can cope with such numbers. It is even more unreasonable to impose such a burden on the local medical and psychiatric services, espec- ially when the Accident Centre at the Kent & Canter- bury Hospital - on duty for the whole of Thanet - is already under intolerable pressure at Bank Holiday periods through road accidents and other emergencies. Sanitary arrangements for such numbers raise many problems. We draw attention to the by-laws present- ly in force for the Isle of Wight, whose County Council now have considerable experienceof massive pop festivals. On their minimum standards now applied it is anticipated that Charlton Park will need over 2,000 chemical closets and 1,700 yards of slit trench urinal s. But there is no guarantee that if provided they would be used. People who find that they have to queue to go to the lavatory will be forced to find somewhere else on or off the site. Charlton Park lies within a water catchment area through which flows the Nailboume_ The source from which the public water supply is drawn is only 90 feet below the topsoil in a chalk sub-stratum and it is considered that there is a serious danger of pollution to both the public water supply and the Nail- boume. It may be necessary therefore for all sewage to be removed from the site and not allowed to drain through the subsoil. 200,000 people will produce 63,000 gallons or 265 tons of excreta daily. With the small access road and traffic jams it is difficult to see how carts taking only 1,000 gallons can cope. There will also inevitably be deposition of considerable quantities of excreta onto the surrounding countryside by crowds possibly of half a million people unable to gain admission to the site. 0 1’4.~—~q__r _,—«.-A It is noteworthy that applications for permission to build dwelling houses in the area have been refused on the grounds that there is a risk of pollution to the water supply from seepage from septic tanks and cesspools. In conclusion we submit that the proposals of the promoters, Great Western Festivals Ltd., will have the effect of creating a public nuisance, threatening to endanger the amenities, health, property and comfort of persons living in the area. No less will they endanger . the morals of young people; these will be the inevitab- le introduction of drugs; interference with large school and student populations in the area at the crucial time of examinations. There will also be the continuing problem of left-behind stragglers and litter of all kinds. We draw the attention of Bridge-Blean Rural ‘District Council, Kent County Council and the Secretary of State for the Environment to Article 4 of the Town and Country General Development Order No. 709, 1963, whereby the Secretary of Statecan make a direction on application by the planning authority to require a plan- ning application to be made by the Festival organisers. We draw their attention also to the County by-laws now in force in the Isle of Wight to control pop festivals and similar functions. It is significant that such by- laws have so soon followed the County's experience of pop festivals. Also to the fact that a private Member's Bill sponsored by the Member for Shepton Mallett, co-sponsored by Mr. David Crouch, M. P. for Canterbury is on the Statute Book, the object being to control such functions on a nationwide basis. It is significa.nt that this legislation proposal follows so soon the pop festival held at Shepton Mallett. NAILBOURNE PROTECTION SOCIETY . Finance Sub-Committee N. G. Fowler, River House, 67 High Street, Bridge, Canterbury Kent. Bridge 349 Colonel G. Elliott, The Paddock, Bishopsboume, Canterbury, Kent. Bridge 337 Gerald Baker, 3 Orchard Cottages, Kingston, Canterbury, Kent. Mrs. Gladys Arter, Cornerways, Kingston, Canterbury, Kent Barham 293 (for Barham) Bishopsboume POP Festivals To all who are concerned with the preservation of East Kent. Nailboume Protection Society, Barclays Bank, 8 Rose Lane, Canterbury, Kent. .. _.,.. 1.. R The Nailboume Protection Society, on behalf of those who are concerned with the preservation of East Kent and who care for the continued peace and safety of homes in the Nailboume area, objects in the strongest possible terms to the proposals to hold two Pop Fest- ivals in the grounds of Charlton Park, Bi shopsboume, near Canterbury, over the periods of Spring Bank Holiday and the Late Summer Bank Holiday, 1972, and to proposals to ma.ke Charlton Park a permanent Pop Festival site. Charlton Park lies in the Nailboume Valley nearly mid- way between the villages of Bridge (on the A2 London to Dover trunk road) and Barham (on the B2065 to Folkestone), both within the same valley. The Barham and Elham valleys are areas of outstanding beauty and natural charm. Adjoining the Park, on the Bridge side is Bishopsboume (population about 160), the village street of which reaches to the Park gatehouse, now in separate private ownership. Along the valley in the opposite direction, and only l/2 mile from the centre of the park is the village of King- ston (population about 450) built mainly across the valley. This area is one of great landscape value, as acknow- ledged by previous Ministers of Housing and Local Government when deciding local planning enquiries. The Nailbourne Valley, with its surrounding hills rising 150 feet high to the north-east and 300 feet high to the south-west forms a trap for any noise emit- ted from the Park, channelling it along the valley in both directions towards the villages therein. Homes in Kingston receive the full blast of such noise; Houses in Bishopsboume can, from this point of view, be regarded as being within the Park itself. Barham and Bridge will be affected to a serious degree by noise and villages in the area for some miles around will be affected in various ways in differing degree. Charlton Park is one of the most attractive natural features of the area, forming with Boume Park and Bifrons Park to the north-west a threemile stretch of almost continuous and unspoilt valley parkland of the highest amenity value in this crowded area of the South East. Trees within the Park have been jealously guarded by the District Council under Tree Preservation Orders. The present owners of Charlton Park published the following in the official guide when they opened their house to the public last year. ‘The charm of Charlton lies in its simplicity, in its completely peaceful and natural surroundings and in the welcome that the owners extend to visitors, who, they hope, will enjoy the tranquillity as much as they themselves do and will regard Charlton as an oasis in a country which is becoming increasing- ly urbanised’ For centuries the villages of Bishopsboume, Kingston and Barham have enjoyed the tranquillity and peace still to be found in a strictly rural area. Bishopsboume has remained practically undeveloped in recent years; limited developments have taken place at the others. These villages have attracted people seeking quietness as an escape from the noise and confusion of urban life. Such people have invest- ed in property, farms and lands, the market value of which has been commensurate with the advantages of quietitude. Neither Kingston nor Bi shopsboume has street lighting and their narrow lanes combined with the lack of lightirg make them entirely unprepared and unsuited for the impact of even a small proportion of the crowds in excess of 250,000 people which the organisers have said they hope to attract. At a previous pop festival held for filming purposes in August 1970 at Charlton Park, and which attracted less than 2,000 people, the noise of pop groups continued until 2.30 a.m. causing residents of Kingston and Bishopsboume annoyance and, in the cases of many elderly people, acute distress The organisers speak of a crowd in excess of 250,000 from all over Britain and the continent attending the proposed Pop Festival s. We submit that the actual numbers of people converging on the area cannot be humanly foreseen or restricted. With advertising facilities available in cinemas, dance halls and hotels it is possible that attendance could exceed by several times that which is anticipated.. For example, the Festival held recently at Weeley, Essex, anticipated 10,000 people; in fact 150,000 attended. Those without tickets and turned away from the site will overflow into the surrounding countryside and the local villages and farmlands will be the natural target. There exist real fears of damage to both public and private property, for which no compensation could be guaranteed; it is most doubtful if the promoters could be held responsible in law for damage caused by people turned away from the Festivals. Any insurance indemnification they offer, therefore, must be viewed with dubiety. Farmers fear for their fences, gates and livestock. If the August Festivals take place they fear fire in crops, stacks and buildings, particularly fire damage to standing crops; also trampling by trespassers and the stealing of and damage to fruit crops. Such damage could be intolerable on economic grounds, necessitat- ing the employment of strong-arrn security forces. Householders fear for the safety of their homes, gardens and goods; they will be forced to abandon plans for holidays at the time of the proposed Festivals, being unwilling to leave homes unoccupied. They fear also the possibilities of scavenging and violence in villages unlit by night, and around scattered homesteads and buildings impossible to protect and secure. Trees in the area and hedgerows in the lanes may suffer damage from people searching for campfire fuel. Lyminge Forest of spruce runs down into Kingston. If this forest were fired there is no available water in the area, except a few static tanks. A holocaust could result. The A2 from Canterbury to Dover is notorious for its undeveloped state and its constant toll of human life. Changing continuously from single to dual carriageway and presently undergoing improvement works it is considered most unsuitable for an additional burden of traffic. Carrying a ceaseless flow of T I R vehicles and other continental traffic this road is a mere 18 ft. wide in the village of Bridge, which is a death-trap, long overdue for a by-pass. Traffic is solid all through the summer and at peak week ends is already impossible. The single proposed access to Charlton Park is through a gateway at the junction of the A2, the B2065 and the narrow Rose Lane. Traffic coming from the London direction will have to turn right, across the never-ending stream of traffic coming from the Dover direction, with its heavy trans-Continental lorries and increased holiday traffic. In addition there are two motor-racing meetings planned at the nearby Lydden Race Circuit during the Spring Bank Holiday. The road at this point is only single carriageway with- out the necessary waiting lanes for traffic wanting to turn off. It is doubtful whether efficient management of the considerable increase in traffic will be possible by the Police. The resultant jam could stretch for miles back through Canterbury, as cars try to get into the only access into Charlton Park. Those trying to avoid the jams may be tempted to go through Boume Park and thence through the totally unsuitable Bishopsboume Street. NAILBOURNE P’ROTl-3CTI0l\’SOClETY Flcil-ITING FUND The Fighting Fund is a contingency fund to be I applied solely in carrying out the following olzr jects of the Society and the proper expenses of the administration and management thereof‘:- 1. To promote the permanent preservation of all that is of merit in the rural environment of East. ’ Kent and especially of the Nailboume Valley and for the attainment of the foregoing to consider and if thought fit, to promote, assist or oppose propos- 'als for the use or development of land in the said. area. 2. To resist and to help others to resist by legal proceedings (or by contributing towards the costs of legal proceedings) or otherwise howsoewer, any threat to the peace and tranquility and the rural character of the Nailboume Valley and the surr- ounding countryside and neighbourhood and in par- ticular to prevent the holding of any large assemtr lies of persons which maybe thought likely to create a nuisance or disturbance to the peace or character of the said neighbourhood or to cause damage to property in the locality. Any person contributing to the Fighting Fund automatically becomes a member of the Nailboume Protection Society and thereby agrees to abide by the Rules of the Society. 50p to £5.00 .. .. .. Annual Member £5.00 or more .. .. .. Life Member Contributions to the Fighting Fund will be ret- ' umable only in the circumstances set out below. 1. The minimum contribution to the Fighting Fund eligible for return is £5.00. 2. On 1st. June 1972 and thereafter on 1st. Jan- uary and 1st. June in every year an account will be taken of all sums eligible for return received and of all sums expended by the Fund Sub-Committee in pursuit of the objects set out in paragraph A (2) above and to the extent that on the taking of each account that part of the Fund eligible for return is in excess of the sum which the Fund Sub-Committee in its discretion considers to be reasonably requir- ed for discharging the obligations of the Society in respect of current or anticipated litigation a rate- able proportion of the Fund will be returned to the contributors. 2. Before excercising their discretion the Fund Sub-Committee shall at the expense of the Fund obtain such legal, accountancy and actuarial advice as it may consider necessary. 3. On resolving to make a rateable return of the Fund the Fund Sub-Committee shall notify each contributor by writing to him at his last known address and unless such contributor shall notify the Fund Sub-Committee in writing that he does not recpire to be reimbursed the Fund Committee shall within 28 days send to him by ordinary prepaid Pos a cheque crossed a/c payee for the amount due to him. 4. If at the expiry of six months from the date of sending a cheque to a contributor such cheque has not been presented for payment or if a contributor notifies the Fund Sub-Committee that he does not require to be repaid or if a period of six months shall have elapsed after the return through the dead letter office of any notification or cheque sent to a contributor the sum due shall thereupon be trans- ferred to the general funds of the Society to be applied in accordance with the rules and objects of the Society for the time being in force and the contributor shall be deemed to have waived all rights in regard to the return of such sum to him. 5. All Fund monies not required for immediate use may at the discretionof the Fund Sul:»Committee be placed by it with some Building Society upon such terms as the Fund Sub-Gommittee think fit and all interest shall belong to the Society and may be applied for its general purposes. 0. ,.g............-.. it The Nailboume Protection Society FIGHTING FUND ety and, in consideration of your admitting me as a member I hereby donate which I understand is only returnable ived noti ce._ 197 . Signature: is form together with your crossed cheque to one of the joint Treasurers of the Fighting Fund The Society's Bankers are Barclays Bank Limited, Cheques should be made payable to the Nailboume Protection Society and crossed a/c payee. I support the objects of the_Soci to'the Society for the purposes of the Fighting Fund the sum of 13 dance with the rules of the Fluid a copy whereof is armexed hereto. I undertake to notify the Fund &1b-Cormnittee of any change in my address and understand that all communic- will be sent to me at the last address of which the Committee has rece Full names Dated Please hand or post th Sub-Committee whose names and addresses are shown on the brochure. ...-.;_-..2‘-L.._-..a_a__-....-.....----......-....-..---..__-_.....«-..........---......_--...i..--..--__.-.._-;_-_-- in accor ations Address to which conmn.mi'c- ations are to be sent NOTE: Rose Lane, Canterbury.