THE chairman of the Mela said watch this space following positive emergency talks with Swindon Council about this year’s event.

Organisers cancelled the festival last week, citing restrictions the council placed on the number of people safely allowed in the Town Gardens at any one time to 5,000.

But following a meeting with council leader David Renard on Monday, it is understood talks have moved towards an agreement for this so long as both parties can iron out the details.

Mela chairman Jaspal Singh Bhui would not be drawn on exactly what those details were but he put all festival fans on alert by hinting that there could be an imminent reversal of last week’s decision.

He said: “We had a meeting with Mr Renard and the other members of the council and it was a productive meeting.

“Everything has been left positive and I cannot go into detail but hopefully we will be issuing a statement later this week.

“We talked about this year and also the future. All I can say is there has been progress, provided both parties can meet the necessary needs for the event to go ahead.”

Last week the Adver reported the decision by the Mela’s project team to call off the one-day festival, due to be held on August 24, after Swindon Council ruled the maximum number of people who could safely be inside the Old Town park at any one time was 5,000, including volunteers, security staff and visitors.

In a statement, the organising committee said the reduction meant it was no longer economically viable to stage the event at the park, while they had previously adhered to stringent health and safety requirements at the park to manage up to 10,000 visitors at any one time.

Coun Renard became involved in the situation after being asked to comment by the Adver and pledged to try to rescue this year’s event by extending an olive branch to organisers.

On Monday he tweeted: “Very positive meeting between council and Mela organisers. Both are considering the detail. A joint statement will be issued later in the week.”

Coun David Renard said: “The council and Mela organisers had a positive meeting on Monday.

“Both are now considering the detail of what was discussed before arriving at a final decision and will be issuing a joint statement later in the week.”