Boomtown under way and dividing opinion

More than 70,000 people are now on site at Matterley Estate near Winchester for the festival which started on Wednesday evening and finishes on Sunday.

The Hampshire Chronicle stories have attracted dozens of comments, some in favour of the event and others against.

David Templeman, of Hinton Ampner, told the Chronicle: "We currently have a hosepipe ban. We are unable to water the garden and are required to minimise our water usage and intake and will be fined if we do not comply. Five days of additional water usage for thousands of people!  How can the Boomtown Policy be justified?"

Online Winston Smith Jnr complained that the event is a symbol of the decline of Winchester: "It would appear everything is back to business as usual: Station Approach, Boomtown, Bushfield Camp, and others. All the efforts by Winchester people to resist these encroachments have come to naught. It's like the barbarians at the gate: they may be repelled, but only temporarily; rest assured there will be a new assault as before. And so it will go on. Winchester really does need a new approach (pardon the pun) rather than this outdated and permanent adversarial contest between the people and the powers that be."

But Old Gorian countered: "You seem to assume that all development and change is bad and you characterise what I would describe as a moribund negativity as "resistance" as if it is something noble. Perhaps you and other regular key board warriors on this site should leave the key board and engage with the change process and influence rather than resist even before details are known.

"I and many others don't want Winchester to be a museum. I want a vibrant, modern city that evolves as new opportunities present."

READ MORE HERE: Campaigners against permanent permission for Boomtown Fair

Some posters were saying that Boomtown brings extra trade while others say the city avoids the custom as festival goers arriving by train are bussed direct to the site off Alresford Road near Morn Hill.

The issue of the festival, within the South Downs National Park, having permanent permission is also controversial. Cheriton Resident posted: "Unfortunately, many people do not appreciate that the statutory purposes of a National Park, which are enshrined in law, include "To conserve and enhance the natural beauty, wildlife and cultural heritage of the area."

"As construction work started in early July and the site will not be cleared until early September (nine weeks is allowed for this in the temporary planning permission which expires on 31/12/2024), nobody could claim that the natural beauty around the Cheesefoot Head Viewpoint is either conserved or enhanced. Nobody knows about the impacts on the wildlife because proper ecological monitoring has not been taking place despite planning conditions which require this to be done. The impacts are not merely for five or six days.

Two Boomtown festival goers have been banned from driving after taking to the roads while high on drugs

"People who like attending this and other festivals, of whom there are many thousands, think that objectors want to stop Boomtown. This is not so: we want to stop it taking place in a National Park. If it were to re-locate to a site west or north of Winchester, outside the South Downs National Park, I would support its continuation."

In response Southern View said: "Once again, naming this area a National Park is overstated. There's no magic boarder, gated access, obvious benefits to the public no different than any other nice countryside area in the UK. I'm all for clean air , respect of the countryside and animals etc but life goes on.

SEE ALSO: Developers eyeing former military base Bushfield Camp again

"The fact you (Cheriton Resident) say this festival could go on elsewhere simply proves the not in my back yard complainer. Personally as a local (who can hear the festival depending on the wind) I wasn't particularly bothered either way what happens but the more I read these selfish posts I side with Boomtown.

"Although I've no affiliation at all I have seen the major efforts of planning by the organisers first hand especially where the environment is concerned. Good luck to them moving forward I say."

The Wah said: "As a local, I love it when the Boomtown circus comes to town. What an extraordinary festival! I have been to festivals all over the world and gobsmacked the first time I went - it is gaining a global reputation as one of the best festivals in the world. That said, I hope to see much improved environmental awareness and a change in behaviour with waste from punters. This is what Boomtown need to be held accountable for (and hope they take seriously, not the disruption). Have a great weekend Boomtowners!"

This afternoon traffic was building up in the Winchester area, combination of summer rush-hour traffic and people heading to the festival site.