THOUSANDS of students from the University of Exeter are tonight, Saturday, May 31, attending an event at Shobrooke Park, near Crediton.

Twenty-four double decker buses and similar numbers of taxis are transporting the students to the event, The Enchanted Garden Ball, which is scheduled to finish at 3am tomorrow morning, Sunday, June 1.

The event began at 5.30pm and last entry is 10pm.

There is a one-way traffic system operating on roads around Shobrooke Park but two-way on the A3072 between Crediton and Cheriton Fitzpaine.

Motorists are advised to be aware of the traffic situation and pinch points, especially where some students are walking along the roads where there are no pavements.

The coaches and taxis are working as shuttles throughout the evening.

The Enchanted Garden Ball is the Official Summer Ball for Exeter University students.

It is organised by The Enchanted Group of Thame, Oxford.

The Echanted Group describe the event as: “Nestled in an idyllic lakeside venue the event brings together an eclectic mix of music, entertainment, immersive theatre and games to celebrate the end of the academic year and the official start to the summer. Set under the stars this is a wonderfully formal soiree on a mini festival site.”

The Group’s website states: “The Enchanted Garden has been growing and changing since 2009, and this year is no exception. From our humble beginnings at Exeter Castle to our colossal expansion at Shobrooke Park, we’ve had everything from beat-boxers to helicopters, secret bars to slides.”

Standard ticket prices were £65 which have all sold out.

PLANNING

Permission is currently being sought to allow alcohol to be sold and more events to be held in Shobrooke Park.

The historic parkland, which has been hosting the annual Enchanted Garden Ball for Exeter University students since 2010, is currently only allowed to have one event a year on a Friday or Saturday and cannot sell alcohol other than at the Ball.

Showbitz Limited wants to hold other events such as “family fetes, plays in the amphitheatre as well as possibly other music events”, licensing documents say.

The company is applying for a premises licence for a larger area, “not necessarily to be used all at once, but to allow scope for different events in different locations”.

The new licence would in theory allow “any event at any time”, largely between 10am and 4am, but the company has “no plans to run any events later than 2.30am” but wants the longer hours just in case it needs them, citing health and safety concerns when guests leave the park.

The licence would cover every day of the year, but the company said it would limit it to 10 events per year and no event would last longer than three days except possibly for theatrical performances.

It also wants to increase its attendance capacity for the Enchanted Garden Ball, which currently amounts to 7,500 people. It is proposed to allow the maximum capacity to grow to 9,000 in 2026 and 9,999 in 2027.

Mid Devon District Council will decide whether to grant or refuse the premises licence application at a later date.

If you would like to make a representation about the application, write to The Licensing Section, Mid Devon District Council, Phoenix House, Phoenix Lane, Tiverton, Devon EX16 6PP.

You can see read the application at Mid Devon District Council’s offices or online.