Highcliffe residents face weeks of disruption each year if a proposal to expand the Clifftop Music Festival is approved, according to Highcliffe and Walkford Parish Council.
The council has formally objected to a licence variation that would turn the existing one-day event into a three-day festival held twice a year.
The application submitted by Stir Events CIC seeks permission for extended hours, running from Friday evening through to Sunday afternoon.
The council says the one-day event has already brought challenges for residents, with noise reportedly reaching almost a mile away and the high street becoming quiet after early evening.
Its objection letter states that earlier festivals were “just within the margin of tolerance” for the community.
Concerns raised include the risk of increased antisocial behaviour, with the council noting limited lighting, narrow access routes and a lack of formal crowd-management facilities. It also highlights the stability of the cliffs and the area’s limited late-night transport.
The objection adds that two long weekends of commercial activity would reduce residents’ enjoyment of the clifftop area, as screens and barriers restrict access.
Chair Adam Sofianos says the proposed expansion “would be hugely disruptive” to the quiet community.
Update: Event organisers respond
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