Cannock Chase live music events to double to eight per year

Residents of Slitting Mill also raised concerns that the section of Cannock Chase closed to the public during the Forest Live events will be shut for longer each year.

But Forestry England, which manages the woodland, was granted a new licence by Cannock Chase District Council on Monday, December 16 which will enable it to hold up to eight days of events each year. 

This is double the four per year previously allowed and will also be extended to allow film screenings as well as live music.

Permission has also been sought to increase capacity from 8,300 people to 9,999 and increase the site area by 20 per cent to accommodate the extra gig-goers. 

Phil Crier, who spoke on behalf of Forestry England at Monday’s licensing sub-committee hearing, said the events were an important source of revenue to help manage the forest, located in an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB), for current and future visitors.

He said: “The concerts allow customers to enjoy live music and performance in a very attractive and appealing setting. 

"This in itself has a secondary benefit of encouraging those who attend the concerts to come back to the forest with their children on another day to enjoy the trails and other areas, and a number of people who attend the concerts use the bars and cafes and shops in the local area.

“The increased number of event days enables us to achieve a greater flexibility for the booking of artists. 

"The second action is to achieve a better value from the costs involved, which are considerable in constructing the stage area, sanitary facilities, transport management, fencing around the site, staffing and security.”

The sub-committee was told that there were conditions in place to limit sound levels that could be detected from the nearest noise sensitive properties to the site, as well as time restrictions preventing construction traffic using local roads between 8pm and 8am during the event set up process. A shuttle bus service was also introduced for this year’s events to encourage concert-goers to travel to the site from Cannock instead of driving directly to the site, which was used by around 900 people.

Forestry England initially requested permission to hold eight event days between June and September each year, with late night refreshment being served until; midnight at events. 

This was later amended to events taking place between June and August and late night refreshment until 11.30pm.

The previous premises licence for the site was granted in 2020. 

The Forest Live concert series has been running since 2006 at Cannock Chase, and proved controversial locally when it was first proposed.

Since then the number of concerts has increased to up to four per year and headliners over the past 18 years have included Status Quo, Jools Holland, Kaiser Chiefs, Paul Weller and Madness. 

Two of next year’s acts have been announced so far in former Police frontman Sting and indie legends James.

Representatives of Forestry England told the sub-committee on Monday measures had been put in place if residents wanted to raise any concerns or make complaints and letters were sent to nearby residents to inform them of event arrangements.

But Slitting Mill resident Sarah Barber told the hearing: “I’ve lived there 16 years and not once have I received a letter. 

"We have lived with it for that amount of time and there is no hotline number, we know nowhere to complain to.

“You say there are hidden benefits coming into the area from the concerts. 

"These hidden benefits are causing problems for the villagers and what are you doing about traffic coming down Slitting Mill?”

Cannock Chase Council received six objections from residents in response to the latest licence application. 

One objection was later withdrawn however.

Objector Richard Barker said: “Forestry England has very recently cut down some trees which acted at the concerts as sound insulation between the event site and the neighbouring residential area. 

"It is yet to be revealed how much the noise pollution will increase.

“During the three-day event in 2024 there was much more interference in the village of Slitting Mill when the lorries involved in setting up the site came through; that has not happened before and should not happen again. 

"The same applied to the concert audience.

“Parking has always been a problem, with little enforcement of no parking on the surrounding roads. 

"Should the maximum number of 9,999 turn up, the area would be gridlocked.”

Fellow objector Gary Marklew said: “When the events were started it was agreed that it would be for two nights only, for 2,000 people, and the village would not be impacted by traffic. 

"However, now it is currently four days and the village is now not protected from the traffic.

“Besides the inconvenience this causes, there is also the environmental implications of all this traffic on local people and wildlife. 

"This new application is for double the existing and four times the original one, which we were assured would not be increased.

“The roads around the village are not designed for this amount of traffic -with very few footpaths this has to be a danger to public safety, especially children. 

"This amount of people with large amounts of alcohol available may lead to an increase in crime and disorder, of which we have already been victims.”

Sub-committee member Councillor Adrienne Fitzgerald said she was concerned about the impact on the land of the extra visitors. 

She asked for assurance the site would be protected.

Councillor Lisa Wilson, who chaired the hearing, said: “There is plenty of wildlife around that area, so how do you aim to protect that? 

"There are lots of little deer and the area you cover is between two main roads; I know first hand the concerts affect them?

“The residents in the village put up with this for a weekend and it’s probably a bit disturbing for a weekend. 

"To put it on for two, with the extra people, and extra alcohol around it seems you are inviting public nuisance and potential for crime and disorder.”

The sub-committee agreed to grant the new premises licence however, subject to a series of conditions. 

Security must be positioned at all egress points in close proximity to all nearby residential areas and pedestrian and traffic management measures must be put in place in Slitting Mill to restrict non-residential vehicles on each event night.

Organisers have been told to write to all residential properties in Slitting Mill to inform them of events and future plans. 

An opportunity for residents to provide feedback after the 2025 events has also been recommended.