We’re furious about nightmare next door

FUMING residents have slammed a new festival saying they fear drunk revellers will ruin their gardens and block their streets.

The one-day food and music event is expected to see the small Kent village of Sevenoaks swarmed by families, “doubling” its population.

Knockholt Fest is set to kick off on the first weekend of August, with tickets costing £5 for a child, £10 for and adult and £30 for a family.

But locals say they worry the inaugural event will become their living nightmare.

The event is being promoted as family-friendly – offering “everything you’d expect from a Great British Festival”.

It’s going to show off award-winning beverages, street food, local crafts and live music.

The festival has now been given the green light by Sevenoaks Council, to the delight of landowner Michael Cutting and events organiser Jay Scott.

The pair said they were looking forward to putting “on a nice community event for everyone to enjoy in the British countryside”.

But the festival had been widely opposed by the local parish council and infuriated locals.

Resident Judy Bloomer owns land right next door to where the event is set to kick off.

KentOnline reported she told the council this week: “You’re selling alcohol, you’re attracting young people – it’s not just families.

“There is nothing to stop people avoiding paying to come to your event, coming onto the rights of way, and in our grounds effectively setting up and partying, buying alcohol from the local shop and trying to have a party in our grounds.”

Judy added: “It isn’t about community, it isn’t about involving the church or the school or everybody else, this is about making money.”

Another resident, Linda Martin, blasted the location the event.

She told the council committee: “I’m not against festivals for a start, I’m an old hippy so I love festivals, I just think where it’s being planned isn’t the right place.

“I didn’t move to Knockholt when I stopped fostering children for a festival opposite my house, I wanted a quiet life.”

Linda, who lives opposite the land, said she was concerned about “nearly a week of upheaval” for the community during the festival set-up.

She said: “At school drop-off times it’s chaos, I have to time when I can get out of my drive.

“I haven’t got a choice of whether I want to go to the festival and enjoy or not, I’ll have to put up with it because that’s where I live, right near your festival.”

There is nothing to stop people avoiding paying to come to your event, coming onto the rights of way, and in our grounds effectively setting up and partying.

Judy Bloomer Neighbour

Despite their concerns, the council granted a time-limited licence allowing the event to run from 10.30am until 10pm.

It also allows them to sell alcohol from 11am until the same time.

After getting green light landowner Michael said: “I feel good obviously that we’ve won.

“We’re not trying to do anything unjustified or untoward to the local community – we want to get everyone involved and we want everyone to enjoy the day.

“The main thing is to bring fun for the whole family from the children to the grandparents.

“There’s kids rides, there’s food stalls, there’s everything there and the safety’s there.

“It’s not like it’s going to be some crazy rave in the back of everyone’s garden.”

It’s not unusual for locals to fume at their neighbours.

In recent days residents were raging after a neighbour built a 19ft high double garage which they claim is like another house and blocks their views.

Elsewhere locals claimed their neighbour tried to rip down her fence and even set up cameras to spy on her after a boundary dispute turned sour.