'Occult fears away with the fairies'
A row has broken out over Petersfield's fairy festival after a councillor said he was worried it could promote "occult activities."
Cllor Philip Aiston said he was concerned the town council was backing the event by allowing it to be held on Petersfield Heath.
But one of the organisers of the festival, Jill Din, said she was “extremely insulted” by his comments.
Councillors on the town council’s grounds committee have recommended that permission is given for the festival to be held at Music Hill on the Heath on the weekend of May 2 and 3.
Cllr Aiston, who said he made his comments after researching fairy festivals on the internet, was the only member who voted against.
He said: “I believe that occult is the correct word to describe some of the activities – the dictionary defines it as having to do with supernatural influences, agencies and phenomena.
“I am sorry if this lady felt it was insulting.”
Ms Din told the Post: “The dictionary also defines fairies as magical – which is what the festival is all about.
“What he is talking about is the dark side – what we are talking about is the light side.
“There is no way we would have anything linked to dark forces. This is completely the opposite. The intention is for everyone to have a really nice day, relax and have fun.”
She said this year’s festival was planned to include a fairy grotto, a wishing well and a pond where people could light wishing candles.
There will also be actors in fairy costumes and musicians.
She is organising the event with her friend Kay Clover and it will raise money for two charities – Cry, which promotes awareness of adult sudden death syndrome and Portage, which assists families with children with learning difficulties.
The first fairy festival, which was held last May, raised 450 for the Hampshire-based Rainbow Trust, which helps families with children with life threatening illnesses.
Cllr Hilary Ayer, who chairs the grounds committee, said: “Only one of the councillors was opposed to the festival – the rest of us were pretty relaxed about it.
“I understand there are now fairy festivals all over the world, and I have heard some very good reports of the one in Petersfield. But it is right that as councillors we consider any concerns that are raised.”
As well as recommending that the festival should be held on the heath, the grounds committee has also recommended that the organisers adopt the council’s own child protection policy to ensure the welfare and safety of children at the event.
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Weather for Chichester
Wednesday 30 May 2012
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