Wiltshire Council is set to decide whether festival Live at Lydiard will be granted a license to hold this year's event at a new venue. 

The first event took place at Lydiard Park last year with Anne-Marie and Dizzee Rascal entertaining Swindon crowds and, despite a storm causing a safety evacuation, it was largely well-received.

This year the event organisers, Culture Collective, announced they would be returning at a new location on August 20, moving from Lydiard Park to the nearby Park Farm in Lydiard Tregoze with an increased capacity.

Wiltshire Council's Northern Area Licensing Sub Committee will decide on whether or not Live at Lydiard should be given the premises license, which it will need to put on live music, sell alcohol and offer food. 

Swindon Advertiser: Photo: Liam SimmonsPhoto: Liam Simmons

But many representations made to the council in response to the application have concerns about the event returning after several apparent issues last year.

Kathryn Ashton from Swindon council's licensing authority suggested it should be refused, highlighting issues around food hygiene, poor engagement with the licensing department security, parking and noise levels. 

And the director of operations at council-owned Lydiard Park, Brian Pinchbeck, also wrote in to suggest the application be refused.

"Due to concerns over the management and organisation of the event Swindon Borough Council have taken the decision, supported by our legal team, not to allow Culture Collective to repeat any events on our council land and for the reasons above I would ask that this application be refused in its current form," he said. 

Environmental health officers Tessa Hares and Brett Warren also shared concerns over noise levels but indicated they would be willing to work with Culture Collective to address those concerns and withdraw their objections. 

Licensing manager for Wiltshire Council, Linda Holland, suggests that the application is withdrawn to permit an Event Safety Advisory Group meeting to take place to consider the event in its entirety and then if all conditions are satisfied a re-submission could be made.

In a letter written to one of the county's licensing officers Jack Summers from The Culture Collective wrote: "I would also like to take the opportunity to make you aware of our plans for Live at Lydiard 2022. Due to time constraints within our marketing, we have had to launch the festival even though the license has not been formally granted. It is important that you have sight of this should you see any of our marketing materials online."

Tickets for this year's Live at Lydiard are on sale now, although it is unclear what will happen if the licensing committee rule to reject the application. 

The Culture Collective were approached for comment and said "We already have a license for Live at Lydiard 2022.

"The only thing that is currently being considered is our request to increase the capacity at our new site."

Councillors Ruth Hopkinson, Peter Hutton, Robert Yuill, and Bob Jones will be holding the committee at Wiltshire Council's Monkton Park, Chippenham offices at 1.30pm Tuesday. March 29.