Boardmasters Festival to get thousands more revellers

Boardmasters will grow in size from 53,000 to 58,000

Surf and music festival Boardmasters has been given permission to increase its capacity.

Cornwall Council approved an application for the annual festival near Newquay to grow from a capacity of 53,000 to 58,000.

The council's licensing committee heard views from planning officers, businesses, firefighters and the environmental health team.

Following the meeting, Boardmasters' boss said he was "delighted".

CEO Andrew Topham said: "Thank you to Cornwall Council, the residents who took time to provide their valuable feedback and to all of the relevant parties who have supported us on this journey."

The festival, which has grown from a capacity of about 15,000 in 2014, will be headlined by Stormzy, Chase & Status and Sam Fender this year.

Sam Fender is among the headliners at Boardmasters

A single planning application to the committee proposed three capacity increases, to 58,000 this year, including staff, performers and non-ticket holders, then 65,000 in 2025 and 66,000 in 2026.

Members voted to restrict the increase to 58,000 over the three year period, with concerns raised about traffic, with previous events attracting criticism for causing extensive tailbacks around the town.

Councillor Joanna Kenny, of Newquay Town Council, questioned whether proposed traffic plans would work, said the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS).

"It's very much jam tomorrow", she said.

"Is there any point in increasing the numbers until we know that these new plans will work?"

Boardmasters said it had invested in the safety and infrastructure of the festival

Abby Paull, who runs a nearby touring park, said: "There are breaches of security every year; revellers break in and try and use our showers.

"We've had drug dealers in our entrance trying to deal to the festival-goers, so we've had to barricade our entrance with fencing, which is obviously not desirable in any way.

"It fundamentally changes the nature and feel of our five-star campsite."

Mr Topham told the committee, the festival had "invested into the safety and infrastructure of the festival over the last five years, and we want to continue to do that".

"We want to add more and more layers of security, traffic management and anything that enhances the festival operation but to do that ultimately means more capacity," he said.

Following the meeting, he said: "We're delighted that Cornwall Council has granted us permission to expand Boardmasters to a new total capacity of 58,000 from this summer.

"We have an incredible show lined up this year, with headliners Stormzy, Chase & Status and Sam Fender, and a wealth of music and surf talent.

"As always, we will continue our hard work to produce a world-class festival in Cornwall."