Derbyshire vegan music festival cancelled after complaints about Covid-19 spread

‘Vegan Camp Out – Back to Basics’ had been due to take place at Riddings Wood Caravan and Camping Park on September 25 and 26.

Nearly 50 members of the public submitted objection letters, as well as Dean Wallace, the director of public health at Derbyshire County Council, due to the risk of spreading Covid-19.

Amber Valley Borough Council had been due to have debate over the planned festival at a virtual meeting on September 15.

This meeting had already been moved from September 1 after the event organiser, Jordan Martin, opted not to turn up because his health and safety representative could not attend.

Less than five hours before the intended rescheduled meeting, it was discovered that the festival management had withdrawn its application.

It is thought the withdrawal was due to the Covid-19 restrictions brought in on Monday, September 14, limiting gatherings to six people.

This is despite initial leanings that the festival, an organised event, may have been permitted under the new guidance, alongside exemptions for weddings, schools, workplaces, supermarkets, cafes, restaurants and pubs.

Councillor Paul Smith, borough and county councillor for the area, had previously accused the festival management of “burying its head in the sand” during the Covid-19 crisis.

Speaking about the cancellation of the event, he said: “It is an absolute relief not just for the community of Riddings but the surrounding area.

“It shouldn’t have gone on this long and somebody should have understood that sooner that an event like this in a community like Riddings is unacceptable.

“We weren’t able to deal with the issue around Covid with the current licensing legislation and something needs to be done about that.

“Times have changed and public health and Covid need to be taken into account.”

He said he is now in talks with the borough council’s legal team and will reach out to the police to ensure the festival does not still go ahead illegally and that hundreds of people do not still turn up to the site.

Dean Wallace, the director of public health at Derbyshire County Council, wrote an extensive letter calling for the event not to go ahead on public health grounds.

He wrote: ‘The Amber Valley (Covid) rate is currently one of the lowest in the county and region, therefore it is highly likely that people travelling to this event will be travelling from areas with higher Covid-19 incidence rates.

‘The volume of people congregating from different parts of the country on this site would still pose a significant health protection risk.’

Mr Wallace and his team were investigating whether they could use emergency powers in the Coronavirus Act to cancel the event, even if the borough council approved it.

Vegan Camp Out has been approached for comment but has yet to respond.