AN EVENT organiser who fought to introduce a two-day concert event to Chipping Sodbury which could attract 5,000 people has won his battle for a venue despite controversy from town councillors.


Alistair Gregson, 41, put forward the proposal for a two-day concert to be held in the streets of Chipping Sodbury which was dismissed at a Sodbury Town Council meeting in October.


Mr Gregson, a professional events organiser who lives in Broad Street, proposed the idea for the Sodbury Live concert which would take place on September 4 and 5 this year, and involve three musical acts performing each night.


Mr Gregson put forward the proposal in the hope of gaining support from the council to approve the event, which he said would involve family-centred bands, with support gained from four local pubs as a ticketed event with discount to local people.


He continued to battle for the concert and after consulting with Chipping Sodbury Town Trust, a charitable organisation responsible for overseeing over 200 acres of playing fields and sports grounds in and around the town, and outlining plans at a meeting on Thursday, March 19, the trust agreed to allow the concert to take place on a portion of The Ridings sports field, off Wickwar Road.


Mr Gregson said: “The trustees are happy for us to apply for a temporary events notice, with the purpose of this is to primarily ensure that the event is being run in line with current legislation and that the public are protected whilst on our site.

"The process should be a two way dialogue between ourselves and South Gloucestershire Council.


“We are talking with promoters now to secure a line up, what the event really needs is public support.


“The application process will take something over a month and will involve all interested parties like police, fire, health and safety and more but once this licence is obtained then the event is officially on.


“Whilst we are obtaining the licence we will also be looking for acts, two each night will be local and two will be named acts of a national significance.


“Once the town trust are happy social media pages will go live giving people a chance to support and follow us and be kept up to date regarding ticket information and more.”


The team behind organising the concert is made up of two investors, a director, a production manager, a production assistant and some technical consultants.


David Shipp, from the Chipping Sodbury Town Trust, said: "The trustees have looked favourably at the request by the organisers to use the community area on The Ridings for their event in September.


"A number of questions raised by the trustees have been answered and they are in the process of agreeing issues regarding access and parking following their meetings with the organisers."


Chairman of the Markets Committee, Cllr Paul Robins, who previously objected Mr Gregson's proposal, said: “I think the new venue, at The Ridings, is much better and the perfect venue for this kind of thing.


"If it goes ahead, it will be on a huge open space so parking won't be a problem and I can't see the concert an issue."


To view the concert website visit www.sodburylive.co.uk.