DORSET Police have raised objections to a summer festival  - with thousands of tickets already sold.

Organisers of the We Out Here Festival, a jazz event which has previously been held in Cambridgeshire, is asking for a licence for the Wimborne St Giles estate in August.

Up to 25,000 people are expected to attend the event over five days – subject to a Dorset Council licensing committee decision when it meets next week.

Dorset Council environmental protection team has asked for extra reassurance about noise control at the St Giles Park site while Dorset Police has lodged a formal objection.

Said Police Sgt Gareth Gosling who deals with licensing: “On behalf of the Chief Officer of Dorset Police I wish to object to this application for a Premises Licence on the grounds that to grant this licence, as applied for, will likely undermine the licensing objective to Prevent Crime and Disorder and ensure Public Safety.

“Dorset Police acknowledge and appreciate that this proposed event is being planned and delivered by experienced organisers, however, upon detailed assessment of the documents, alongside other information available to us, in particular other documents relating to event, Dorset Police are concerned that the conditions being proposed do not provide the high level of assurance that is necessary for an event of this scale.

"The absence of enforceable conditions in areas of concern and an over-reliance on the Event Management Plan, details of which have yet to be finalised, is something that will need to be overcome before we can withdraw our representation in respect of this application.”

Four residents have raised concerns about the disturbance likely to be caused by the large event in the grounds of the Grade 1 listed house, and the effect on the Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, including its Dark Skies status. Four representations, including one from the parish council, have been submitted in support of the event.

The issues will be tested at a Dorchester meeting of the Dorset Council licensing panel next week, March 22, unless agreement is reached beforehand.

In a covering letter Cheltenham-based event organiser Joe Barnett said: “We Out Here is a four day, family friendly music festival curated by Gilles Peterson of BBC Radio 6.

“Launched in 2019 the event brings the best in the UK jazz scene together with a wide breadth of genres that Gilles has been celebrating over the last 30 years. We celebrate musical legends and emerging talent together and aim to offer our music loving audience a range of other offerings while at the event, from talks and cinema, kids, yoga and wellness activities, clothing, craft and record markets, and even roller skating and open water swimming!

“As organisers we have been running events in the UK and abroad for 20 years and have brought together a team of event professionals with a wealth of experience across large scale event production to deliver this festival.”

The request says the four day event will only have two days with a post-midnight finish, with live music into Saturday and Sunday mornings until 3am and recorded music continuing until 5am.

A schedule submitted to the council shows live music from 2pm on Wednesday August 9th with events continuing until the early hours of Sunday 13th, with most people expected to leave the site on, or before the afternoon of Monday August 14th.

Early, reduced price, tickets for the site have already sold out with the remaining tickets, from £230, and some day tickets without camping, still being advertised.