A FESTIVAL hailed as the ‘jewel of the north west’ is set to welcome 21,000 people to Jodrell Bank after licence changes were approved – despite concerns over crime and disorder.

The Bluedot Festival – which showcases music, arts, science and culture – will take place at Jodrell Bank from July 18 to July 21.

Plans for the annual event could have been placed in jeopardy on Tuesday, however, Discover the Bluedot Ltd’s application for a premises licence was granted by the Licensing Act sub-committee at Macclesfield Town Hall.

Lower Withington Parish Council had expressed serious concerns over the proposals to increase capacity by 10,000 people.

It believed this would present an ‘increased risk’ of public nuisance, crime and disorder in the area, although Cheshire Police did not raise any objections.

Following approval by the sub-committee, permitted capacity has increased from 14,999 to 24,999 – however, a cap of 21,000 people has been placed on this year’s event.

Simon Taylor, the legal representative representing the applicant, highlighted the ‘unique nature’ of the spectacle to members.

He also insists there is no widespread public nuisance associated with the festival as it is ‘not that type of event’.

Mr Taylor said: “It is a successful festival and it is unique in the sense of its combination of different disciplines.

“I read a description in the paper that described the festival as the jewel of the north west – that is how well it is regarded in the national press.

“We make no apology that it is successful and that more people want to go.

“What the application is about is sustaining the event – it is about making it better, it is about satisfying demand for more of the public to be able to attend.

“It also attracts families. When you have a capacity you count everybody that is on site – whether it be a baby or whether it be an old-aged pensioner, everybody gets counted in for capacity.”

Mr Taylor also outlined some of the ‘tailored’ plans for future events to ensure 24,999 people can be accommodated.

They will include standard car parking for 7,900 vehicles and contingency parking for more than a further 4,000.

Reading out the committee’s decision, sub-committee chairman Cllr David Edwardes said members were ‘happy’ to vary the licence and increase the capacity at the venue to 24,999 – on the condition that the capacity is limited to 21,000 for this year’s event – because it is satisfied that all the licensing objectives have been ‘robustly met’.