Leader backs Shrewsbury Fields Forever quarry move

The organisers of Shrewsbury Fields Forever, which was cancelled this year after being left without a venue, have reached a provisional agreement with Shrewsbury Town Council to stage it at the park in 2016.

Councillor Alan Mosley, leader of Shrewsbury Town Council, revealed it had initially been in discussions over hosting the event for 2015, but was now looking forward to next year.

He said: "Clearly we have been talking to the organisers for some time. It is a shame it has not been possible to put something on this year but we look forward to hosting it and bringing people into Shrewsbury to enjoy the town next year.

"However, we will have to take great care to get agreements with the organisers to protect the interests of local residents and to make sure everyone is safe and sound."

Dene Edwards, of Forever Invasion, which organises the festival, said he was thrilled to have secured an agreement for the Quarry to host the festival.

Next year's event is scheduled to take place from between July 15 and 17, with events running from 10am to 10.30pm.

"Obviously the date is provisional," said Mr Edwards, "But we have been working closely with the town council to make sure the event carries on annually in the town and we have come up with a solution.

"We have always dreamed of operating at the Quarry but found that only in recent years have they developed the park to provide the infrastructure to hold such events.

"It has a long history of holding big events, such as the flower show and the town concerts like Jessie J, which set a strong precedent for it to be a success."

He added: "Being based at the Quarry also opens up the strong possibility of a collaboration with town venues to provide a fringe festival and further boost the local economy."

Mr Edwards also said that some of the acts originally planned to appear this year had agreed to transfer to next year.

Shrewsbury Fields Forever had taken place at the Greenhous West Mid Showground from 2011 to 2014, but a contractual dispute led the venue's owners to say they would no longer host the event – leading to the cancellation of the 2015 festival.