RESIDENTS in Yarnton have hit out at plans for a music festival that could play music until 3am in the village.

Notices outside Yarnton Manor say that summer school operator Oxford Royale Academy has applied for a licence for a ‘Winterwell’s Summer of 1967’ festival on Saturday, August 29.

If the licence is granted, the 350-capacity festival will play live music outdoors from 1pm to the “early evening”, live music indoors from 1pm to 3am, and serve alcohol from 1pm to 3am.

Richard Byrne, who lives in Aysgarth Road, said he feared the festival would create traffic problems, noise and antisocial behaviour.

The property maintenance manager, who has lived in the village for 55 years, said: “It just upsets the whole village.

“I know it is only one day but Yarnton Manor is not big enough.

“The same festival happened in Little Blenheim around 2010 and that was a nightmare, there was noise blasting out at three in the morning.

“There will be so much traffic and the council are doing nothing about it.”

But Yarnton Manor owner George Humphreys said appropriate security measures and infrastructure will be in place to lessen the impact on loca residents.

Mr Humphreys added: “The impact on the traffic to Yarnton is predicted to be negligible, save for an increased yet manageable level of traffic on Church Lane at peak times.

“We are aware that the music will create noise and to limit the disturbance that this may cause, it will be contained to the back lawns of the Manor, which are surrounded by walls and high trees.

“In addition, we have insisted that the playing of any outdoor music will be over by the early evening and that after this all music will be played indoors.”

Yarnton Parish Council chairman Fred Jones said: “The parish council are in the middle of making a representation to the licensing application.

“A lot of the members of the public have already submitted emails but we have to look at the overall issue because we have a responsibility to everyone in the community.”

The licence application will be considered by Cherwell District Council on Monday, July 6.