CHARD’s annual music festival has been cancelled after organisers did not reach their sales target.

Despite the coronavirus pandemic forcing most festivals and concerts to cancel or postpone, John Arnold, the founder of Chardrock, took to social media at the weekend to reveal that the festival could still happen after discussions with local authorities.

However, a minimum number of tickets would need to be sold for the event to raise any cash for charity.

A maximum number of people on site would also be imposed for safety reasons.

John said: “The decision to hold this year’s festival is becoming increasingly difficult.

“Having spent the last week in contact with the local authorities and licensing, etc, there are no objections to the festival being held providing Covid-19 safety measures are followed in accordance to government procedure.

“We could expand the site to allow social distancing, etc, and put all the relevant measures in place.”

However, the difficulty became ensuring that enough tickets were sold to make Chardrock viable and raise money for the chosen charity.

This year, Chardrock profits will go to the NHS and Dorset and Somerset Air Ambulance.

John added: “With this in mind we need a minimum of 400 people each day.

“If we do not reach the target within the next 24 hours, we will have no option but to postpone.”

On Monday evening, John confirmed to the News that he had been forced the cancel the 2020 event.

He added: “Although I have been working extremely hard to run the festival this year and recently with the local authorities and government putting measures in place for social distancing and all aspects of safety measures against Covid-19, it is with regret that I have made the difficult decision to postpone this years festival.

“It is paramount that safety comes first and although many of you pledged to support the event, more importantly help raise money for charity, it is more important to keep each and everyone of you safe and well.

“I wish to thank those volunteers who pledged to help and run the event again and the companies that provide our stage, PA, toilets and power.”

John is now working to get next year’s date confirmed as soon as possible, and to book the same acts for 2021.

Those who had already booked their tickets now have three options.

You can request a full refund, ask for your ticket to be held for 2021, or donate some or all of your ticket fee to charity.

If you have a preference for donating to NHS or the air ambulance, email john@chardrock.co.uk.