The organisers of a major Green Man Festival in Bradford on Avon have reversed a decision to cancel the event after confusion over parking.
The vibrant, family-friendly community event will take place in Bradford on Avon town centre on Saturday, May 11.
Despite this organisers, Alfie and Jan Windsor said on Thursday, May 2, they had “no alternative” but to cancel the festival because of confusion over the event parking.
Their decision followed a mix-up in booking the Victory Field for event parking for the dancers and musicians attending.
The field is scheduled to be used on the day of the festival by the Royal United Hospital’s RUHX charity as a rest area for walkers on its Forever Friends Walk for Life along the Kennet & Avon Canal Towpath from Bishops Cannings to Bath.
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A message, which has now been removed but was seen by the Times, posted on the festival's website announced the confusion.
It said: “We are devastated to announce that the GMF [Green Man Festival] has been cancelled following a last-minute intervention by our town council.
“They [Bradford on Avon Town Council] provide our event car park but with one week to go we have just realised they have double-booked the field as a rest stop for a walking event passing along the neighbouring canal.
“Their latest emails say they ‘forgot’ to book it for us but the end result is the same. Sharing the parking field is not practicable.
“They tried to find additional parking for us but there is no workable alternative that wouldn’t have created traffic chaos."
One of the highlights of the festival is 10-foot-tall figures of Jack in the Green and his partner Jill in the Green, built by members of the Bradford on Avon Men's Shed.
After meeting with council officers on Thursday, May 2, organisers posted on the website again to say the festival was back on.
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The post reads: “We thought for a while that the GMF was going to be cancelled because of parking and traffic flow challenges.
“The town council have found alternative parking arrangements that can cope with our numbers and avoid any traffic flow issues so I’m very pleased to confirm that the GMF is definitely going ahead.”
A spokesperson for the town council has since apologised for the confusion.
They said: “After discussions with the organisers this afternoon, we’re happy to say that the Green Man Festival is now back on.
“We’ve been able to find alternative parking in the town so that the event can happen. There will be more information from the organisers soon.
“We’re sincerely sorry for any problems caused by today’s previous cancellation message."
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