Leeds Festival Will Go Ahead

LATEST: Britain's Carling Weekend: Leeds Festival will go ahead as planned this weekend (22/24AUG03) - despite a last minute attempt to pull the plug on the event.

An emergency meeting of LEEDS CITY COUNCIL agreed to take no action following the revelation that planning permission has not been obtained for a temporary road to the Bramham Park site.

Conservative councilor JOHN PROCTER, who opposed the festival, was seeking an injunction to stop the roads being used.

He told the BBC, "The panel decided not to take any action and that's something I do regret."

But fellow councilor BERNARD ATHA says, "I think it's very good for Leeds. Personally I can't stand the noise they make at those festivals, I can't enjoy them, but thousands do.

"It's good for Leeds, and it puts Leeds on the map in a different sector of the public than previously."

If the two disputed roads had been closed, it would have left the festival with just one access route for the expected 50,000 revellers.

Blur, Linkin Park, SUM 41, BLINK 182, Beck and The Darkness are among the bands playing the rock festival, which starts on Friday (22AUG03).