Villagers lose booze battle over festival farm at Scorton

Woodacre Lodge Farm south of Scorton has seen a series of successful countryside-related gatherings over the past few years. The popular attractions have included steam fairs and, in more recent years, the Lancashire Game and Country Festival (since 2015) and the UK Truck and Tractor Pull (since 2023).

They have acted as magnets for visitors, boosting the local economy – with the game festival and tractor pull becoming fixed events in the countryside calendar. Over the years each of the various events have been covered for drinking / entertainment licence purposes by “temporary” licences, but a recent bid by applicant Woodacre Park Farms Ltd to obtain a licence to cover all such shows in future prompted opposition from local residents.

Around 15 nearby residents voiced concerns over potential problems including noise, traffic increases on the country lanes, litter and public nuisance. Many based their fears on problems they claimed had arisen from previous events.

One wrote: “… the tractor pull is the worst for noise, with the roar of revving tractor engines throughout the day and loud music throughout the evening till the early hours. “The noise from this one event is so loud it can be heard in Garstang over a mile away.“

With a drinks licence too … revellers will be leaving the site late at night and mainly driving down Gubberford Lane to the A6. Gubberford Lane is already a dangerous road for pedestrians.” But despite the opposition the licence has been given the green light by Wyre licensing committee. The meeting’s draft minutes, explaining the approval, state: “Fear that something may happen if the application was granted is not a reason for refusal.”

The minutes also describe previous events at the farm as “well run with no formal noise complaints having been received.” It was also noted there had been no police objections.