OUTRAGED residents packed a public meeting in St Leonards to condemn plans for concerts for 5,000 people in Ashley Heath forest.

Nearly 300 turned up at St Leonards and St Ives Village Hall to make their feelings known to the Forestry Commission's recreation boss, Bruce Rothnie.

Concerns about noise, traffic, and trespass were among those heard by Mr Rothnie, who spent nearly two hours fielding questions.

The Forestry Commission is planning an annual weekend concert on a 16-acre "recreation area" with parking for 2,000 vehicles in a forest area near Moors Valley country park.

Musicians including Jools Holland, the Charlatans, and KT Tunstall have performed at concerts in other forests managed by the commission.

Noise from the Ashley Heath concerts would be controlled by a 500-metre "buffer zone", a state-of-the-art sound system, and a north-easterly facing stage, said Mr Rothnie.

But local people complained they are already blasted by noise from events at Matchams Park and Somerley House.

Marshalls, a one-way system on existing gravel paths, and weekend performances to avoid the commuter crush would all help to manage traffic flow into the site from the B3081, said Mr Rothnie.

Residents rejected Mr Rothnie's assurances, saying visitors could queue for up to five-and-a-half hours if each of the 2,000 cars left the site at the rate of one every 10 seconds.

Overspill into housing areas would be inevitable as concert-goers sought to beat the traffic, said residents.

A history of accidents on the B3081 proved its unsuitability as an access point, residents argued.

Security guards in key positions would keep out gate-crashers, said Mr Rothnie, adding that trespass had not been an issue at concerts held at other Forestry Commission sites.

But locals said private security firms would find it impossible to protect the large, open site, and a police presence would increase council tax.

The Forestry Commission is planning further public meetings.

Friday's meeting ended with locals instructing the parish council to voice their opposition to any licence application made to the district authority.