Shrewsbury Fields Forever festival could have a new venue anywhere in Shropshire, organisers say

The Shrewsbury Fields Forever Festival is on the move from the county town's West Mid Showground following disagreement with its owners.

But Dene Edwards, of Forever Invasion, which organises the festival, said he still expects this year's event to take place on the same dates - September 11,12, and 13.

He said: "We are looking to do it on the same dates and we are looking at a venue where we can host more than 8,000 people a day.

"We are quite a distance down the road of securing a new venue, we are just ensuring the logistics are in place.

"It takes a whole year long process to organise so obviously there is an awful lot to arrange, and different venues have different challenges.

"We just need to make sure everyone is in a safe environment and has the best experience possible. We always strive to make it better every year."

He added: "We have got options all over Shropshire and we are going through the viability tests for all of those."

In March the Greenhous West Mid Showground, which had previously hosted the event, announced it would not be doing so this year.

Ian Bebbington, showground manager, said the board of trustees to the Shropshire & West Midlands Agricultural Society had decided not to accept the booking because they had been unable to come to a contractual agreement with the organisers.

He said: "We are extremely disappointed. We have tried our very best to get to a position where we could agree the event for this year.

"It is a big thing for the town and it is a big thing for the show ground."

Last year around 16,000 people attended the three day festival, which featured a host of top musicians and comedians, including The Cribs, Shed Seven, Russell Kane, and Lee Nelson.

A statement issued by the trustees confirmed the position, saying: "The board of trustees of the society have taken the decision not to accept a request to hire the showground for the Shrewsbury Fields Forever event this year."

The statement also revealed that the organisation had undertaken "protracted discussions" with the festival management to enable the event to take place.

The 53 acre showground, off Berwick Road, also hosts the popular Shrewsbury Folk Festival, which attracts thousands of visitors to the town.