Village anger at BNP festival plan

Melissa Beck | Tuesday, 10 July 2007 Source: Derbyshire Evening Telegraph

Emotions ran high when residents against plans to hold a large British National Party event in Denby met to discuss the proposals last night.

People living in the village attended a parish council meeting to voice their concerns about the BNP's plans to host its annual Red, White and Blue event on August 4 and 5.

Thousands of people are expected to attend the gathering, in Codnor Denby Lane, which would feature a fairground, a fireworks display and political speeches.

But people living near to the proposed festival site say the village could not cope with thousands of visitors. They also fear they would be disturbed by noise.

RWB is an annual meet, which has, for the past four years, been held in Lancashire.

This year, it is scheduled to be held on 20 acres of land belonging to Heanor and Loscoe parish councillor and BNP member Alan Warner.

Mr Warner attended the Denby Parish Council meeting last night, but left after some of the 30 residents present said they felt they could not speak out if he was present.

Philip Pritchard, of Codnor Denby Lane, Denby, said the BNP website already featured details of the event, including ticket prices, even though Amber Valley Borough Council was not due to make a decision on whether to grant it a licence until a week on Wednesday.

The website also lists a schedule of events and states that a licensed bar will be open on all three days.

Mr Pritchard said: "The website lists the events taking place as if a licence has already been granted. It's just terrible.

"When these people come, trouble comes with them."

John Lumsden, who lives opposite one of the fields to be used by festival-goers, told the meeting: "No one in the village wants that many people here.

"There won't be enough places to park and it will just cause havoc."

Many residents said they were not against the BNP as an organisation, but felt such a large event would be too loud and would cause traffic chaos.

Before Mr Warner left the meeting, the former Conservative Party member, who defected to the BNP after being an Amber Valley borough councillor from 2002 to 2004, said the event would be small.

He said: "There's going to be no trouble but there will be a bit of noise."

Following last night's meeting, which was held at the Denby Institute, Derby Road, Denby Parish Council will write to Amber Valley Borough Council outlining what was said.

Mr Warner has said the festival is self-contained, with 60 BNP security guards to prevent people trouble.