Aug 20 2008 9:51 am,
After yesterday’s reports that Wiltshire Police had banned the dangerous Babyshambles from performing, Moonfest organisers have completely axed the festival.
Moonfest, which was due to take place at Storridge Farm, Westbury from Friday 29th to Sunday 31st August lost their license for the Friday of the event when magistrates upheld the police's use for the first time of Section 160 of the Licensing Act 2003. The festival website today reads:
“On Monday 18th August 2008 we appeared before Chippenham magistrate's court where the police successfully convinced the magistrates that the appearance of Pete Doherty at Moonfest was likely to cause public disorder. Using section 160 of the licensing act 2003, the magistrates revoked our licence for Friday 29th August.”
“With Pete and Babyshambles being our headlining act for the weekend, this draconian action taken by the Police make it impossible to run the event at the end of August. To say we are surprised and devastated would be an understatement. The Police attended every public event licensing meeting over the last 6 months. They have always been aware that Babyshambles and Pete were appearing. The police also attended the public hearing on the 24th July when the licence was granted and made no objections; indeed they actively supported the event at the meeting. We are currently carrying out the huge task of contacting all the people involved in putting the festival together. Once we have done that we will be contacting directly all people who have purchased tickets.”
“We would like to extend our thanks to all the people that have been so helpful and understanding in what has become an enormous nightmare to the Moonfest team. There are too many to list individually however we would like to say a special thank you to Pete Doherty who has volunteered to put on a free performance at a private party we are looking to organise for all the people who are affected by this terrible news.”
