Setting the stage

Tribute acts and local bands could take to the stage in an outdoor festival in Ollerton this summer.

Fake Festivals, based in Doncaster, wants to hold a festival in a marquee on Ferndale Close football field on June 6.

The Fake Festival website says the idea of the event is for families to enjoy a day out on a playing field or village green within walking distance of their community.

Local covers and original bands are invited to perform before the tribute bands, covering a wide range of age groups, take to the stage.

The marquee, which holds up to 1,000 people, contains a stage, sound and lighting and a bar.

Drinks can be bought using non-refundable tokens that are exchanged for cash at a booth in the marquee.

There will be food stands, at least two of which will be local, in a fenced area that has tables and chairs.

Fixed toilets are provided by the playing field or portable toilets are brought in by Fake Festivals.

They either pay the host a fixed amount upon securing the event licence or offer a share of any festival profits depending on the amount of tickets sold.

Ollerton and Boughton Town Council’s clerk, Mrs Christine Leivers, said the company had asked the council some time ago if they would be interested in working with them.

She said the council put them in contact with Mrs Jane Paling, the community and extended services liaison officer at the Dukeries College.

Mrs Leivers said Mrs Paling and the principal, Mr Danny Smith, were keen to hold it on the Dukeries College site.

She said everything was going smoothly until they found out the events licence was going to cost up to £3,000 because it was based on the rateable value of the land. If it was held on a playing field, the normal fee of £100 would apply.

She said the organisers still wanted to work with the school but wanted to hold the event elsewhere.

A town councillor, Mr Ben Wells, suggested asking a representative from Fake Festivals to attend the next council meeting.

He said: “In principle, it is a sound idea and it would be of benefit to the community.”

He wanted to meet a representative to find out what they could expect.

Mr Ray Shilling said the council should look into the licensing fees because the district’s licensing committee could have some discretion.

He felt the Dukeries College would be a better venue because it had railings and could be policed better.