Borough Council agrees with Downs Conservators Decision

5.28.00pm BST (GMT +0100) Sat 13th Sep 2008

The concerts will take place the week after the Derby race meeting

At a meeting on 3rd September, Epsom & Walton Downs Conservators gave the go-ahead for two days of concerts (13th and 14th June 2009) on Epsom Downs and their decision was approved with support from the Borough Council at a specially convened meeting on Friday 12th September.

The event on Saturday will be popular music and Sunday's music will be classical. The organisers are contracted for five years with Epsom Downs Racecourse but needed permission from the Conservators each year in order to proceed.

A blistering speech in support of the event from Cllr Anna Jones (College) who not only represents the residents of that nearby ward, but who also stands to suffer any problems as a result of the concerts, reflected the views of the whole Lib Dem group. She was satisfied that the concerts would be properly policed and that consultation with local residents afterward would pick up any problems which had arisen. The Lib Dem group welcomed the views canvassed by College Ward Residents Association, which stated that 85% of residents were in favour.

Scores of letters had been received by the Borough Council, both supporting and objecting to the event. Extracts from two are

'I am confident that those planning the proposed events will ensure that all possible safeguards are put in place ..."

and

'Unfortunately the Derby and any similar event such as the one proposed always attract the wrong sort, that is to say those intent on drunken anti-social behaviour ...'

"After all" said Cllr Jones "if the organisers of the event don't get it right they won't get permission for the following year from the Downs Conservators but I feel that in the interests of providing for the needs of young people - and indeed older people - it is certainly worth granting permission for the first year."