Music festival to go ahead despite planning refusal

A music festival is set to go ahead next weekend despite a planning application to host it being refused.

Wiltshire Throwback Festival (WTF) returns to Oakfield Stadium in Melksham on 26 and 27 June, with a line-up that includes rapper Professor Green, pop group Liberty X, and ex-Sugababes singer Amelle.

Events company Jarboom applied for planning permission in May to double the capacity of the festival as well as have a second, smaller stage.

Wiltshire Council refused the application on 17 June citing "insufficient" plans and information to assess the impact on residents and wildlife. But organisers appealed against the decision, which reportedly allows the event to continue.

On the run-up to the first WTF in 2025, Wiltshire Council rejected a planning application on ecological grounds, saying land at the edge of the stadium site needed to be protected from trampling.

However, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service, a licence was later granted and the festival went ahead.

This year, organisers resubmitted their application for planning permission to hold the event at the site, which is the joint home of Melksham's football and rugby club.

They had hoped to double the size of the audience to 5,000 on each day.

However, the application was rejected over noise pollution concerns and ecological grounds.

During the 30-day consultation period, the council's public protection team said the submitted noise management plan was insufficient to "assess the likely impacts of noise on residential amenity".

The council's ecology officer also said "insufficient information" had been provided to demonstrate that "the proposal would avoid significant harm to habitats and species".

However, the application was supported by Melksham Town Council on the basis that it was a "one-off event only".

It was also backed by Melksham Without Parish Council, who said the event had been run "positively" in 2025, with effective crowd management, good security arrangements, minimal traffic issues and positive police feedback.

Nico Menghini of Jarboom said organisers were "naturally disappointed" by Wiltshire Council's decision.

He said they had "worked extensively to address the concerns raised during the 2025 process", proposing fencing to protect wildlife and a "comprehensive noise management strategy".

"We firmly believe these matters can be satisfactorily resolved," he added.

Menghini said the team remained "confident" in their plans and were "continuing to work closely with all relevant parties to ensure the event is delivered safely, responsibly, and in line with all requirements".

The appeal effectively puts the planning process on ice and allows the festival to continue, the Local Democracy Reporting Service said.

Wiltshire Council has been approached for comment.

Follow BBC Wiltshire on Facebook, X and Instagram. Send your story ideas to us on email or via WhatsApp on 0800 313 4630.