A TWO-DAY music festival, due to have been held in Liverton, featuring a host of bands headlined by Toploader, has switched venue.

Organisers of the Eos Festival have announced a move to historic Powderham Castle.

Due to have taken place at the Woodland Cafe and Yurt Camp site in Staplehill Road, Liverton, the fund-raising event in May will now be held on the Powderham estate.

The switch follows a licensing hearing by Teignbridge Council and complaints from residents living near the Liverton site.

Woodland Cafe owner Stuart Crook said an already ‘strong’ relationship with the castle had made the change possible.

He said: ‘We had been looking to hold the festival at our 44 acre eco site but unfortunately it was felt it was not suitable.

‘We had been looking to extend the cafe licence to include the festival.

‘Having already outlawed funds for the event, we were able to pick it up and move it.’

The family festival, on the weekend of May 19 to 21, is described as the ‘best independent music festival in the south west’ and will be raising money for Rowcroft Hospice.

It is to feature an ‘epic’ line-up of internationally renowned bands, Devon based artists, eclectic DJs, artisan street-food, local brews, films, poets, storytellers and family activities.

Other bands in the line up include Sound of the Sirens and The Undercover Hippy.

Mr Crook said £30,000 has been spent on ‘infrastructure’ for the event.

He hopes more than 1,000 will attend the weekend which will see pop up yurts brought in for accommodation.

He said: ‘Instead of having to cancel this event, we have been lucky enough to move it to Powderham Castle.

‘This is a happy and positive move forward and make sure this fund raising event goes ahead.’

A licence application for the supply of alcohol and entertainment including live music for the Woodland Cafe and Yurt Camp site was made to Teignbridge Council.

But it faced fierce opposition from residents and the parish council.

Neighbours claimed they had endured ‘years’ of noise, disruption and fly-tipping since the land was granted approval for use as a ‘glamping’ site.

A total off 11 objections were made on the grounds of public nuisance.

Complainants said the proposed event was a major concern.

A report to committee members said there had been no objections from police.

But neighbours responded to the application with a list of ongoing complaints and particular concerns about the advertised festival.

Ilsington Parish Council objected with clerk Carol Retallick saying: ‘Over the past years, the owners of this site have breached their current licence and we have been given evidence of occasions when this has happened.

‘We have been informed that the immediate neighbours have made numerous complaints to you regarding the excessive noise and, as far as they are aware, no action has been taken against the breaches of their license.’

Preston Down Trust, which provides a place of worship next door to the site, said a licence would ‘more than likely to have an adverse impact on our holding church services’ and that it was ‘entirely unsuited to holding such a music festival’.

The trust also raised parking as a ‘serious problem’ along with a ‘risk of trespass’, vehicle access could be hindered and there may be ‘potential safeguarding issues with children and young persons included in

our congregation’.

Mike Besley, whose home backs onto the site, in his representation, said: ‘Our concern is this licence gives them permission to run multiple events throughout the year of this nature.’

Noise levels, he said, were disturbing sleep and sometimes continued until 4am.

He said: ‘The extension of the current restrictions will make disturbances beyond anything acceptable in the countryside area.’