KIRKMICHAEL'S Village Music Festival resurrection was given a welcome boost after extended hours were agreed for the McCosh Hall.

In a rare exception, South Ayrshire's licensing board agreed to extend the licenced hours for the venue on Friday, June 13 and Saturday, June 14 to 1.30am - an hour and a half longer than all but one of the occasional licences granted for the McCosh Hall since 2005.

Returning for the first time since 2005, the festival - previously known as the Kirkmichael Guitar Festival - takes place from June 13 to 15 and will see a variety of musical acts perform as well as a Ceilidh and a 'Battle of the Bands' competition.

Twelve out of 13 of the licences granted for the McCosh Hall since 2005 have had a terminal hour of midnight, with the other having been agreed for 12.30am.

"We've been organising this for many months," said organiser Dorothy Birks, who also owns the nearby Kirkmichael Arms, "the whole community will be out celebrating this.

"We have people in for dinner and the whole village is buzzing about it. Everyone is so excited about the festival. It's going to be well manned and there are a lot of responsible people helping to organise it." Licensing Standards Officer Catrina Andrews advised the board to consider whether loud music and people leaving the events late at night would be against the licensing objective 'preventing public nuisance'. She also confirmed that a recent applicant who was seeking a 1.30am terminal hour for the venue was refused.

Despite her concerns, Councillor Ian Douglas urged his fellow board members to accept the proposals. He said: "I used to live in a village and they had a massive festival. This is the resurrection of this here. Give it a go!

"If there's complaints then next time around take that into account. It's one weekend a year and I'm happy to make an exception and give it a try.

"It would be an absolute nonsense to shut the hall while the festival is going on." Councillor Sandra Goldie was less convinced and she added: "There's quite a number of houses round about and I'd certainly be upset if that was my house. I don't think we should grant the exception." Both councillors' comments left Councillor Andy Campbell and Councillor Peter Convery with a dilemma. Councillor Campbell said: "My heart goes with Councillor Douglas and my head goes with Councillor Goldie." And Councillor Convery added: "I think it's marvellous that the music festival has been resurrected. Villages by and large get well and truly behind it.

"We have a responsibility but my instinct tells me to go with Councillor Douglas." The meeting was adjourned for around 10 minutes and the fate of the application came down to a vote, which was granted after the majority of members voted in favour of the extension.

And licensign board chair Ann Galbraith added: "I hope it goes well."