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You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.theguardian.com/culture/2017/aug/18/tunbridge-wells-residents-complain-about-sex-festival-in-the-woods
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| Outrage in Tunbridge Wells over sex festival in the woods | |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Residents of Tunbridge Wells – known for writing outraged letters to the editor – really do have something to be upset about this weekend: a sex festival. | Residents of Tunbridge Wells – known for writing outraged letters to the editor – really do have something to be upset about this weekend: a sex festival. |
| Hundreds of people are expected to attend Flamefest, billed as a “kinky rave festival” that promises an outdoor S&M dungeon and “adult play area” staffed by dominatrices. | Hundreds of people are expected to attend Flamefest, billed as a “kinky rave festival” that promises an outdoor S&M dungeon and “adult play area” staffed by dominatrices. |
| The event, being held in Brokes Wood on the outskirts of the Kent town, will also feature DJs, live music and entertainment, with tickets costing as much as £600. | The event, being held in Brokes Wood on the outskirts of the Kent town, will also feature DJs, live music and entertainment, with tickets costing as much as £600. |
| The festival website says Flamefest was created to bring together “the purest, most hedonistic elements of the party scene, from kinksters to ravers”. | The festival website says Flamefest was created to bring together “the purest, most hedonistic elements of the party scene, from kinksters to ravers”. |
| It adds: “Our outdoor dungeon is discreetly secluded, furnished with fetish play equipment and monitored by our friendly assistants. | It adds: “Our outdoor dungeon is discreetly secluded, furnished with fetish play equipment and monitored by our friendly assistants. |
| “Explore pain, experience pleasure and fulfil your fantasies on this mystical site, where witches’ covens have met for centuries.” | “Explore pain, experience pleasure and fulfil your fantasies on this mystical site, where witches’ covens have met for centuries.” |
| But locals claim they were not consulted about the event, and councillor Dianne Hill, who represents the Southborough and High Brooms ward, said she had received many complaints. | But locals claim they were not consulted about the event, and councillor Dianne Hill, who represents the Southborough and High Brooms ward, said she had received many complaints. |
| Hill told Kent Live: “I’m no prude but this is the wrong place for this sort of thing. It’s a residential area. A big worry is they say there will be coaches coming down – where are they going to park? | Hill told Kent Live: “I’m no prude but this is the wrong place for this sort of thing. It’s a residential area. A big worry is they say there will be coaches coming down – where are they going to park? |
| “People are obviously going to be concerned about the noise. I have contacted [Tunbridge Wells borough commander] Dave Pate so the police are aware.” | “People are obviously going to be concerned about the noise. I have contacted [Tunbridge Wells borough commander] Dave Pate so the police are aware.” |
| She added that the event did not need to be approved by a council licensing committee because it was being held on a temporary licence, so few residents had been aware of it until recently. | She added that the event did not need to be approved by a council licensing committee because it was being held on a temporary licence, so few residents had been aware of it until recently. |
| But festival organiser Helen Smedley said Flamefest was a private event and insisted no sex would be on show to the public. | But festival organiser Helen Smedley said Flamefest was a private event and insisted no sex would be on show to the public. |
| “It’ll involve music, workshops, getting at one with nature,” she said. “We’ve got guests coming from all over Kent. We’ve had someone fly in from Romania and Australia. | “It’ll involve music, workshops, getting at one with nature,” she said. “We’ve got guests coming from all over Kent. We’ve had someone fly in from Romania and Australia. |
| “We allow people the safe place to have sex, we’re monitors, just to make sure everyone’s safe. There’s nothing that happens in view, on site. People go off to their tents to meet like-minded people.” | “We allow people the safe place to have sex, we’re monitors, just to make sure everyone’s safe. There’s nothing that happens in view, on site. People go off to their tents to meet like-minded people.” |