Council Reject Hop Farm Festival Expansion Plans

Tonbridge and Malling council have rejected an application by the Hop Farm festival to expand the event in 2009.

Organisers had hoped to turn the festival, which began this year, into a three day event with camping.

But a licensing hearing on November 11th rejected the application because the committee felt that organisers hadn't supplied enough information about proposed traffic plans and security.

In a statement, festival organiser Vince Power said: “This seems to be the normality these days when applying for a licence. 

“We had some complaints from the local village, which seem to be unfounded."

Organisers plan to appeal against the ruling at a hearing next January. Power said they were “confident” that the decision could be overturned.

This year's edition of the Hop Farm festival featured performances from Supergrass and Neil Young. You can see highlights below.