"The shopkeeper interests on the town council have always been against too many (or any!) 'outsider' food, drink and icecream stalls because they take business away from town shops"

This is an area where I DO think some of the traders need a kick up the arse. The reason many of them lose custom is because they ignore customer needs. EG: A lot of the restuarants do not start serving evening meals until 7pm. That's no good to someone wanting to attend a main evening event at 8pm. And when you come out aeound 11pm with an attack of the munchies - tough.

And I don't think Steve Heap banned local traders from pitches at the festival - the excellent Mexican would appear to be owned by people in Peaselands Road.