A FARM that neighbours feared would be the “next Glastonbury” when a 25-year-old took over, can stage more events and for longer, councillors have ruled.

Huw Evans began farming at Llanvetherine Court near White Castle in 2017, with a plan to hold weddings and concerts, plus farm tours and wine tasting, as part of a “more environmentally-minded form of agriculture”.

And in his application to the Monmouthshire Council licensing committee, he said: “After an initial fear of living next door to the next Glastonbury, and uncertainty of a 25-year-old new entrant to farming, the vast majority of the local community have become supportive of what it is we do.”

But his application to change the farm’s premises licence, which also covers alcohol sales, to allow events throughout the week, rather than just Thursdays to Sundays, and until 6am on Fridays and Saturdays and 4am on Sundays, was opposed by some neighbours.

Gary and Jess Yeomans described noise from music events as “just about bearable but irritating”, but said increasing the number, size and frequency would “significantly impact our homelife”, while Peter and Verity Rumsey said they had been “regularly disturbed” by music from the farm.

Both couples also highlighted ‘poor access’ to the farm from the Old Ross Road.

Monmouthshire county councillor David Jones said he acknowledged cooperation from the farm owners, but the noise disturbs the “tranquillity” of the area, which includes a number of holiday lets and Airbnb properties.

Applicant Mr Evans said Mr Yeomans had rented his Airbnb property for the farm’s biggest event of the year, the Collective festival earlier in September, and the holiday let had a 100 per cent five-star rating for the five years it has been in use.

He told Monmouthshire’s licensing committee that previous events have been staged under temporary event notices, with the farm having had six such licences this year, and his intention isn’t to stage more events but to simplify the licensing conditions.

Licensing officer Linda O’Gorman said there had been no objections to the 37 temporary licences granted since 2018, and the committee report also confirmed there had only been two complaints since 2022.

Mr Evans’ father and co-applicant, Edward, said they had also improved the barns used for most of the music events, that can host more than 250 people.

He said: “We’ve spent quite a lot on sound proofing those barns. They were in a terrible state when we took over... They are much better sound proofed than the average barn on the average farm.”

Huw Evans said techniques such as a “straw bale castle” and a second sound system, facing the first, to reduce noise, have been used.

Huw Evans said talking and even wind rustling the trees could be louder.

“The style of music is about atmospheric, swirly kind of noise. I don’t know if you’re into the same kind of atmospheric music?” he added.

The applicant’s father said: “There’s a generation gap here and I’m on the other side of it.”

The committee approved the application, but advised the applicants to issue advice about entering and leaving the site at the road junction.