AN ORGANISER looking to put on a music festival in Hampshire is asking local residents to 'give him a chance'.

Suni Phoenix, along with two of his friends, is seeking Winchester City Council's permission to host a two-day event at Worthy Grove – a large greenspace just outside South Wonston.

If approved the license will allow live music and the consumption of alcohol on-site from 11am on July 10 to 2am the following morning, and from 11am until 3am the following day.

The festival, called Hidden Wonderland, has a max capacity of 4,999 and revellers have the option to camp.

Mr Phoenix, who lives in Wigan, told the Chronicle: "Opinions of local people are divided. We have done our absolute best to speak with all the surrounding villages and some of the support has been overwhelming.

"What we want people to realise is this is not Boomtown. We've gone to huge extents to deal with the noise – we are nowhere near the village, are on a tiny site and our sound systems will ensure nearby people won't hear anything.

"The impact on traffic will be absolutely minimal, too. We've thought it all through. It's only two days and a lot of people have said they're excited and that 'not much else goes on in the area'.

"It's never going to be some massive festival. We really hope people can give us a chance to be who we say we are."

Residents in surrounding villages have been offered free tickets to the event, which will feature five separate stages and see genres such as techno, house, hip hop. A number of live bands have also been booked.

Areas dedicated to yoga, meditation and mental health workshops are planned too.

Mr Phoenix will be at a public meeting in South Wonston on Friday, March 13 to speak with locals.

He added: "It's hard to convey things over the phone so all three of us will be there. We are absolutely dying to meet people and encourage as many as possible to turn up.

"We're not trying to be difficult and people's concerns will not fall on deaf ears."

The Chronicle has contacted South Wonston Parish Council and awaits a response.