THE Lodestar festival and the possibility of 30,000 revellers passing through the sleepy village of Lode has prompted impassioned debate in the small community. The Ely Standard spoke to residents on both sides of the argument about the consequences of t

THE Lodestar festival and the possibility of 30,000 revellers passing

through the sleepy village of Lode has prompted impassioned debate in the small community.

The Ely Standard spoke to residents on both sides of the argument about the consequences of the event for a population of 950 residents.

Peter Butcher, Fairhaven Close: "I've been all for it from the word go. That's why I went to the meeting of

the planning committee on Wednesday. It will be a very good thing for the area but the trouble is that people think they are not going to benefit from it, but they will. Some people have only listened to one side of the story.

"The people who are complaining are the old folk but I'm very glad it went

through. He has it so well planned out that you couldn't fault it. It will

be very good for the community."

Valerie Clarke, postmaster Lode Post Office: "Thirty thousand people descending on a village of 400 houses will ruin our peaceful way of life and the reason we choose to live here. We are all paying council tax here and I think we should have a reduction. East Cambridgeshire District Council has a duty to its residents and they have to take our feelings into account.

Alex Stewart of Fairhaven Close: "I think it's a wonderful idea, particularly as I think it will engage young people in the area. I also think it will offer people an alternative to the Cambridge Folk Festival. He's looked into the transport issues quite closely, and these things cost quite a lot of money to do.

He's covered every avenue and it is only one weekend - it's not going to cause complete mayhem."

Carol Epps, High Street: "It is a sad day for us. We just don't think a village of this size can cope with it. There is a rumour that somebody was thinking of moving to Lode but

didn't because of this festival, and so it is having consequences before it has even begun. She said it has become an undesirable place to live.

"It will affect insurance as well as property values because of the sheer volume of people. It looks as if the council has agreed to it and we haven't been listened to. The application has been approved and he may have won that, but he's lost the favour of the village.