A STREET food festival company that draws thousands of visitors to its events, this week cancelled its Minehead date after meeting with what it described as “active hostility” from employees at West Somerset Council.

Cardiff-based Street Food Warehouse, which operates across the South of England and has held street food festivals from Devon and Dorset to Sussex and Pembrokeshire, was due to hold a festival in Minehead from July 20 to 22.

Its events usually draw around 18,000 to 25,000 visitors, depending on the size of the location, with anything from 15 to 22 food traders who the company sources, while it runs the bars.

Initially the company spoke to Minehead Town Council in October last year. It was “really co-operative” and spurred them on to get in touch with West Somerset Council, said company event organiser Caroline Kinderman.

Everything progressed well and the date and location were agreed. Then things started to go downhill – and at a standard Safety And Guidance (SAG) meeting held earlier this year, they met with “active hostility,” she said.

“We chose Minehead because we wanted to do a festival in Somerset, having done Devon and Dorset.

“We always do them by the sea and Minehead seemed perfect. It’s such a pretty location,” Caroline said.

The district council person she initially dealt with suggested Warren Road on the seafront for the location, and after agreeing the date, she carried on organising the event.

From this point onwards, she said, they were met with hostility from certain council members, including unpleasant phone calls, and things worsened after the SAG meeting.

“We attend SAG meetings all the time, when the council and organisations like the police, go over the event management plan and give advice or guidance.

“We’ve never had one quite so hostile, though. I felt actively attacked,” said Caroline.

A spokesman for West Somerset Council said this week: “It is very disappointing to learn that the organisers have decided to cancel the event.

“The council is keen to attract events that bring visitors to the resort and so help the local economy.

“West Somerset Council’s licensing team is making contact with Street Food Warehouse to learn what went wrong and how the process can be improved.”

pproach was made to the district council and a potential location suggested, but the site – Blenheim Gardens – was considered unsuitable for a number of reasons, so the alternative of the seafront was suggested.

“Blenheim Gardens is a popular spot for many visitors, old and young, so the pressure of numbers in an historic park could have caused problems as well as potential noise and disturbance for nearby residents.”A company that draws thousands of visitors to its events, this week cancelled its Minehead date after meeting with what it d