THE Local Authority Ombudsman has been asked to stop the Teignbridge area's most popular music festival Air Fusion.

The festival, which attracts thousands, is due to run on Friday, Saturday and Sunday July 21, 22 and 23, in Courtenay Park, Newton Abbot. Now residents have slapped in the request to the Ombudsman asking him to intervene and stop the event being staged in Courtenay Park. And members of Courtenay Park and Devon Square Neighbourhood Watch accuse Teignbridge Council of not properly considering objections and suggestions regarding the event.

It also maintains that the district authority, having taken a decision 'based on what we believe we can prove to be false and deliberately misleading information', to allow the park to be used again for the Air Fusion event, is guilty of maladministration.

Co-ordinator for the group, Chris Goddard, has forwarded the formal complaint to the Ombudsman along with supporting evidence – the final draft of the complaint contains 112 pages.

The group points out that both the district council and Newton Abbot Town Council subsidise the event and have officers/councillors who actively promote it.

Residents had suggested it should be transferred to what they described as the much under-used and far more suitable grounds at Forde House. In a survey on Air Fusion conducted in August, the group revealed that nearly all residents and stakeholders who responded felt strongly that Courtenay Park was not a suitable venue for such an event.

They believed it resulted in: l A serious increase in teenage anti-social behaviour in the area which continued for many weeks after the event, especially in and around the park.

l Serious nuisance from excessive noise which disrupted the lives and the businesses of people who live and work around the park and the eastern end of Devon Square. *Unacceptable parking restrictions which seriously affect some residents and businesses. *Drug related criminal activity. *Improper use of a public park. *A serious litter problem outside the fenced-off area.

*Interference with and trespass on residents' and stakeholders' property. Air Fusion organisers Platform 4 Performance has applied to Teignbridge Council for a premises licence to carry out regulated entertainment on the three days within the hours 10am-11.45pm. That will be heard by the council's licensing sub-committee. Any representations have to be in to The Licensing Section, Teignbridge Council, Forde House, Newton Abbot, by Sunday June 18. Air Fusion MDA 30.5.06. JB.