Witney Town Council and the Witney Music Festival Festival have signed a partnership agreement that will see the town council providing core sponsorship and free use of The Leys for the annual event.
It's a far cry from 2017 when the council used camouflaged wildlife cameras in the trees to keep tabs on festivalgoers.
Witney Music Festival organisers were horrified to discover council workers removing cameras from trees days after the event’s finale.
Witney Town Council said it used cameras on The Leys, which it owns, to monitor anti-social behaviour– but police said council staff told officers they were used to observe the event.
Chair Eric Marshall said: "We have had a history of challenging relationships with WTC over the years which has come close to finishing the festival for good, who can forget the cameras in the trees!
"However, I'm very pleased to say this new generation of council members have shown amazing dedication to the town they represent.
"The Witney Music Festival team are hugely grateful to Witney Town Council for this new partnership which will help secure the festival for the future.
"The festival is so much more than the two days, it involves the community on so many levels: artists, suppliers, local businesses and all the people of Witney who attend.
"In the establishment of this agreement the town council have shown their commitment to the town they represent and the WMF team are proud to now be working alongside the Witney Town Council to deliver this celebration of all that's good in Witney for years to come."
Council leader Vicky Gwatkin said the town council's new partnerships are about "recognising what we value while appreciating that others may be much better placed to deliver it".
"We are privileged to have many organisations which form part of the fabric of life in Witney and offer wide ranging community benefits," she said.
"These are run by people who are passionate about what they do and have a wealth of talent and expertise.
"The partnerships are a formal way for the Town Council to acknowledge the role these organisations play and let them know we are keen to work with them to help them develop and achieve their objectives.
"It is a rejection of the ‘them and us’ and we hope it brings everyone round the table with the same positive mindset to work collectively in the best interests of Witney."
Deputy Mayor Owen Collins said he was "absolutely delighted" and the partnership would allow the festival to grow even further.
He said: "The WMF has been one of the jewels in Witney's crown for years, and the town owes a tremendous debt of gratitude to the volunteers that make it possible.
"They help keep music, arts and culture front and centre of our community, a vision which the Town Council share wholeheartedly.
"This new formal agreement will mean that the people of Witney, its plectrummed plethora of musicians, and its fantastic local businesses, will all continue to enjoy the many benefits of this brilliant event."
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This story was written by Miranda Norris, she joined the team in 2021 and covers news across Oxfordshire as well as news from Witney.
Get in touch with her by emailing: Miranda.Norris@newsquest.co.uk. Or find her on Twitter: @Mirandajnorris
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