February 11, 2010 12:45

Glastonbury festival granted licence until 2016

Council approves plan, with 2012 set to be a year off

Glastonbury festival organisers Michael and Emily Eavis have been granted a licence by their local council to run the event until at least 2016.

The application was passed by Mendip District Council without any objections or the need for a hearing to take place, though a previous objection from Devon And Somerset Fire And Rescue Service has now been concluded without the need for councillors to mediate, reports eFestivals.

Mendip District Council spokesperson Jason Kirkwood praised the overall decision to extend Glastonbury's licence, saying, "This is the first time that there won't be a hearing [for Glastonbury festival] amending the application. I've been here since 2001 and it's never happened before, as far as I know."

He added: "The objections have been mediated to a mutually agreeable solution, and so the amendments [to the licence] will go straight through."

Glastonbury is taking a break in 2012 so as not to compete with the London Olympics, the schedule of which would clash with the festival.