Latest article in the Sidmouth Herald (31 January) states that the Bulverton campsite will be used in 2014.

Under a front page banner headline "FolkWeek campsite move delayed by red tape" it is stated that festival chiefs have been told they need planning permission!

Thus we are expected to believe that it has recently been discovered that the new site would require a planning application as well as a licence application (for alcohol/entertainment etc). This would have been known probably a year or more ago given the number of people who have been involved, including from the town council, and indeed it is referred to here:

views of a local resident

as well as in one of the articles published here:

articles published 13 December 2013

It is more plausible that the upbeat October announcement

First public announcement of campsite move

was intended to be a dry run to gauge opinions and the strength of any opposition. This is often done in planning for new homes on Green Belt or for contentious alterations to existing buildings - let the first wave of criticism die down and then slip it through when no-one is looking.

In October it was claimed that a final decision would be made by Christmas. In the latest article this deadline slipped to the end of January - and with the need to obtain planning permission being cited as the reason why the new deadline could not be met.

So for this year it is back to the Bulverton - "our much loved and well established campsite and clubhouse".

Other coverage in the Herald is centred upon the special acts for the 60th anniversary year. Details of these are on the official website too.