AN impassioned plea not to axe a Poole family music festival enjoyed by thousands has succeeded.

Last night’s hearing by Borough of Poole’s licensing sub-committee ruled that the popular Party in the Park can go ahead at Ashley Cross Green on August 29 and 30, to the delight of supporters.

Organiser Jane Jones had warned that if the premises licence was turned down that would be the end of the event, which is in its 15th year.

“Poole can be a fun place,” said a relieved Ms Jones after the premises licence was approved with eight conditions.

However she told the three-strong panel during the hearing that it would be a “tragedy” if the event did not go ahead.

“It would be a crying shame if it’s pulled,” she said. “It has cost me a fortune and probably broken me financially.”

She said she had done all she could to mitigate complaints from two residents and the council’s own environmental and consumer protection service over noise, anti-social behaviour and litter.

A section of the park has been given back for residents to use during the two-day event and she has agreed a special condition on the licence relating to noise levels and arranged litter collections and a transport plan with parking at the Civic Centre multi-storey.

And since news of the threat to the Bank Holiday festival broke, an online petition set up by the organisers for people to show their support, has attracted well over 1,200 signatures.

The sub-committee heard that the maximum number of people at one time on the Saturday last year was 3,100 and 3,400 on the Sunday.

Objector Sarah Dominey, who lives 30-40m from the park, said noise levels last year were “intolerable” and made her house shake. “It’s the wrong area with the amount of people,” she said.

Andrew Wemyss, Borough of Poole consumer protection officer, said he had agreed conditions including a limit of 75 decibels for the music.

Paul Baxter, consumer protection officer, said: “We are happy with what we have come up with. We are concerned for the applicant’s ability to entertain but that’s down to them.”

Conditions range from strict monitoring of noise levels to litter clearance.

Sub-committee chairman Cllr Judy Butt said it had been an “extremely difficult” decision to make and added: “We wish success for a safe neighbourhood-friendly event.”