A FAMILY music festival is vying to increase the number of days it runs – despite concerns from local residents.

The organisers of Alresford Music Festival have applied to Winchester City Council to extend the annual event from one day a year to two days.

The music and creative festival, which this year celebrated its tenth year, attracts thousands of people to Arlebury Park.

It has built a reputation for making families and first time festival goers feel extra welcome, providing a safe place to enjoy some of the best and most varied music about.

But it is understood that the running of the event has now been passed to creative arts company M3 Productions who have plans to increase the size of the festival.

However, the application has been met with a negative response by some living close to the site worried about the “disturbance” over the weekend, according to ward councillor Russell Gordon-Smith.

He said: “There is a bit of a problem certainly as it is right next door to residential housing which houses retired people. McCarthy & Stone opened it earlier this year.”

Cllr Gordon-Smith added: “There are now more people living in earshot than last year. There are quite a lot of apprehensions from resident living in the Deane that they [the organisers] want it for another day.

“Residents don’t particularly want it to extend. I don’t think residents of a certain age who live nearby were very happy about it last year, the feeling was ‘ok let people enjoy themselves’’ to extend it is the thin edge of the wedge.”

And New Alresford Town Council chairman Cllr Keith Divall said that the authority was aware of the plan and discussed the application at a meeting on Monday.

The application is expected to go before the city council’s licensing committee for determination at a future meeting.