Music fans will be pleased to hear that the main stage for Monmouth Festival is set to return for 2020 in an as-yet undecided location.

This year, a bold decision was made to relocate the stage which has historically hosted the crowd-pullers of the festival line-up to a venue on Chippenham Fields.Although the proposed move was backed by Monmouthshire County Council, it prompted a backlash from the sports associations who use the pitches for games all year round.Fears that a wet summer would mean the village green would become a Glastonbury-style sea of mud and the prospect of broken glass - despite the festival’s strict no-glass policy - forced the festival committee to back-track and cancel the main stage altogether.Following the move from Agincourt Square, the festival had settled into a place in Blestium Street car park which was easier to manage, and allowed a safer gathering of large numbers of people. And who could fault the backdrop of a medieval bridge?However, as it was still a car park for tourists and shoppers it meant that the area was restricted until 6pm and the vendors, who provide a crucial revenue stream for the festival, could not set up until after 6pm and had to take down their stalls after the evening entertainment had finished.It was intended to change the format of the festival and move from nine consecutive nights of bands to a five-day format on Chippenham with two full days of festival fun all day Saturday and Sunday with tourists and shoppers still having full use of Blestium Street Car Park.There were the same number of bands as in previous years, but the music could now start earlier.It was a win-win situation for both Monmouthshire County Council and the Festival Committee.But the town was divided over the issue. Some said it was a great idea, others feared it would attract a Glastonbury-style look with the possibility of festival-goers setting up tents to make full use of their stay.The committee reassured the public that 24 hour security would prevent anyone from pitching up and assured residents and sports fans that a scrupulous litter-pick would make sure that there was nothing left to cause injury.The ‘sea of mud’ image was more difficult to dispel but again the committee said that measures in place would mean that any damage would be made good.But bowing to pressure, organisers admitted only a month after their headline announcement of a new site and new format, they were forced to withdraw the main stage altogether.Committee member Cerys Watts has put out a plea for more community involvement in the festival to keep it going.“Without more committee members to plan, organise and stage the event; more volunteers to help during the event, and businesses and organisations actively backing and sponsoring the event the future of the festival will continue to be uncertain,” she said. “We are the envy of many places and the bands tell us they enjoy coming here as it is so well organised,” she addedIf you would like to join the festival team or help out in any way then go along to the next festival meeting on Thursday, 5th December at 7pm at the Riverside Hotel. If you’re unable to attend the meeting but want to get involved, email [email protected] year’s festival will start on Saturday, 25th July and run until Sunday, 2nd August.