So, as a brief and probably over-simplified summary - expect to be moved on if you are an illegal trader and (it is to be hoped) welcomed if you are a folkie or other busking act. Amplified musicians are likely to be moved on along with the traders.

From my past experience of the confusion and uneccessary bad-feeling caused by the efforts of well-meaning representitives of the official festival to take control of the esplanade and in particular of busking there, I greatly fear that the above will indeed be an over-simplified summary. It will indeed be very sad if the 50th is remembered only as the year of the inept if well-meaning 'jobsworth'. Perhaps we need a bit more than just to hope, that the baby is not to be thrown out with the bathwater?

I fear that the only buskers NOT moved on will be those busking for the festival, rather than those busking for themslves. Whether you consider and judge this busking in the town, at this festival to be good or bad, just trying to police it, by making these narrow distinctions, will a nightmare, counter-productive and quite out of keeping with a festival atmosphere.

Again, amplified music there, may not to be to mine or everyone's taste but unless it it causing a real problem or is drowning out other activities, this type of music is just as valid and should be as welcome on the esplanade as every other form of music.

I fear that any move towards the wish for more control over non-official traders from the organisers, being justified under a tighter enforcement of existing laws and by-laws, will be a wrong move. As once this is done - all aspects of these regulations will need to be strictly policed and enforced - even some of those which may have been lightly enforced in the past during festival time, to everyone's benefit.....

I really hope that a spirit of fun and tolerance can prevail at this special event. Certainly this, rather than prejudice and narrow-thinking and that this spirit of fun and tolerance will form the pattern for future events, that every vistor to Sidmouth, whatever their tastes, will be welcomed to enjoy and contribute to, at whatever level and in whatever form they wish.......