Cllr Laura Hall-Wilson requested a review of the license upon learning controversial punk act, Bob Vylan would be headlining.
Laura said “I absolutely support festivals and live music for all the benefits they bring to the local economy not to mention the enjoyment they bring to all who attend.
I also initiated the review very soon after the headline act was announced at the beginning of March. Timetabling at Wiltshire Council is what has meant the hearing was only held today.
The headline act of Bob Vylan called into question some of the objectives of the Licensing Act 2003, specifically the protection of children as this is advertised as a family friendly event.
I am very much an advocate of free speech, I don’t think anyone should face criminal consequences for saying unpleasant things, but I don’t think local authorities should issue licenses to provide them a platform for such hateful comments.
It was in the public interest to review this license and the committee agreed as there were enough grounds to initiate the review. I have just come out of the license hearing and there will be no change to the license but the organisers have engaged and put in place some mitigation to prevent the act using the stage to communicate some of his more unpleasant rhetoric.”
