A small music festival which supports local charities has been granted a licence which will allow it to expand.

Pandafest, which usually takes place in July in Lanivet, near Bodmin had applied for a full licence after operating on a temporary licence in previous years.

While the event will not take place this year due to the coronavirus pandemic it is looking to restart in 2021.

Previously the event has been held on one day and with a capacity of 500 but under the new arrangements it will be a three-day event with a capacity of 2,000 for each day.

The application had attracted one objection from a local resident who claimed that last year’s Pandafest was “miserable for many, many people”.

In their objection they said that even with all their windows closed during last year’s festival “we could still hear the so-called music until almost midnight”.

The comments were taken into consideration by Cornwall Council’s licensing act sub committee when it met to decide the application this afternoon.

The committee heard from a solicitor representing Pandafest who said the festival had received support from local people including the parish council.

He explained that most of the audience at last year’s event had come from the local area and there had only been one complaint about the festival made to Cornwall Council.

As part of the application Pandafest had submitted a noise management plan which sets out how it will limit noise from the event to ensure minimum disturbance.

The organisers also said that when the event takes place there will be a mobile number for the organisers provided to local residents to contact should they have any complaints.

The committee also heard that the event is held on a not-for-profit basis with any profits being given to local charities. By expanding the event it is hoped that even more money will be donated in future.

Committee member Bert Biscoe said he “commended” the applicants for making their application rather than relying on temporary notices for the event.

The committee voted unanimously to grant a licence for the festival in line with conditions which had been agreed by the applicant, the council and the police.By Richard Whitehouse, local democracy reporter