It is interesting that many of the letters supporting the festival (or knocking me) feel that they have to try and excuse the council's policy.

This is probably the one thing that does really upset me. But I do well understand the anger of people who have their harmless interests threatened. Even if this anger is not directed in the direction where the responisility for the threat clearly belongs.

They overlook the fact that had the name of the pub I forwarded for inclusion in the official programme been the New Star(if the council had not already been responsible for this session), or indeed any pub on Portland or Weymouth, without a PEL - not only would it not appeared have in the programme, the officers would have had to insist on a PEL. If the pub had not complied, even for a temporary PEL, the festival event and the weekly folk event would have been prevented as a result.

Or if a session in say The Ship had spilled into nearby pubs without PELs, on more than a one-off basis over the 3 days, these would have had to be prevented by the council. This is a real danger as many folk prefer to choose their own pubs for informal pub sessions at festivals.