A “warehouse party in a field” near Stevenage will face a council hearing – with revellers praising the event as a “special gem amidst a sea of generic festivals”.

Campo Sancho has applied for a premises licence ahead of its return in summer 2024.

Neighbours supporting and opposing the Walkern festival have written to East Herts District Council ahead of the hearing, due on Tuesday, June 6.

In its application, the organisers said the seven past instalments of Campo Sancho have gone down with “no objections, no nuisance, no crime or disorder”.

One festival-goer wrote in: “It is a great festival that spans a beautiful space, ensuring safety.

“It makes for a peaceful and entertaining family-friendly event.

“I have attended the festival for three years in a row with friends and family.

“It appears to be helpful for the local community economically, very well organised, and I am not aware of any issues previously associated with the event.”

Read more

Another wrote: “It’s a great asset to the local community bringing in local suppliers to serve the festival, as well as a great event to have on our doorstep.”

A neighbour from Walkern said the event is in an “extremely safe idyllic setting”, and that “disappointment” towards having no event in 2023 would “only be compounded if this great family event was not to return for 2024”.

An events manager in Weston who runs a bar at Campo Sancho praised the festival for being a “very friendly, relaxed, clean and safe atmosphere” and a “really special gem amidst a sea of other generic, more commercial festivals”.

Hertfordshire Constabulary has not objected to the license and has proposed 29 conditions, among them that a noise management strategy should be handed to the council at least eight weeks before the event.

However, not everyone is supportive of the plans.

Walkern Parish Council raised fears of public nuisance and possible crime and disorder.

The applicant has applied for a licence to play recorded “background” music from 9pm until 3am on Fridays, and until 4pm on Saturdays, which the parish council opposes.

“Walkern is already suffering from antisocial behaviour and this late finish, it is felt, will encourage more as people depart the event, as we have previously witnessed, having to pick up bottles from our hedges,” the council clerk wrote.

“We feel that those responsible should ensure a ‘sound limiter’ is available and those intent on playing music should use it, as the sound on previous occasions travels down to the village inconveniencing those trying to sleep and stopping people who have windows open.”

A neighbour wrote: “Our house in Benington is approximately 1,000 metres from the Campo Sancho festival site and in previous years, the sound at night has been a significant nuisance causing sleep disruption.

“Whilst not against the festival taking place, consideration for the local residents in earshot of the music and its loud bass beat would be appreciated.”

SanchoPanza, the organiser, hopes to run its next Campo Sancho between Thursday, July 25 and Monday, July 29, 2024.

The organiser promises a “small independent festival, detailed and homemade with love and dedication”.

Campo Sancho is “actually like the best warehouse party in a field you’ve ever been to,” its website continues.

“It’s located deep in the Hertfordshire countryside, less than an hour from London.

“We’ve taken our learnings from almost 30 years of Carnival, numerous warehouse jams, boat parties and joyous gatherings and planted them all in a stunning, magical site, surrounded by trees.”

In its application to East Herts District Council, the organisers have asked to show plays, films, live music, play recorded music, and supply late-night refreshments and alcohol.

“Campo Sancho will be based in three fields very close to Walkern Hall,” the application reads.

“The entertainment field is a secluded, lower-level field, surrounded by trees, woodland, a barbed wire fence and farm fields.

“With the exception of 2020, due to Covid, Campo has hosted events at the estate using a mixture of temporary event notices and a time limited premises licence for seven years with no objections, no nuisance, no crime or disorder.”