Former council leader's festival company hit with fourth strike-off notice in two years
It is the fourth notice handed out in just over two years to the company
A festival boss has said that a fresh threat to dissolve his company is “no big deal” despite it being the fourth such notice in just over two years.
Wickham Festivals Limited was issued with a First Gazette Notice for compulsory strike-off on September 1, according to Companies House records.
The notice means the Registrar of Companies intends to strike the business off the register and dissolve it unless cause is shown to the contrary. It states this cannot happen less than two months from the publication date.
But director Peter Chegwyn – former Liberal Democrat leader of Gosport Borough Council – said the position would be resolved once overdue accounts are submitted later this month.
The councillor for Forton said: “This is no big deal. Thousands of winding-up orders are issued against companies every year, and most are discontinued when late accounts are submitted.”
The company’s latest accounts, covering the year to May 31, 2023, were due more than two-and-a-half years ago – February 2024.
Cllr Chegwyn added: “We have had some issues with our accountants, but overdue accounts are now being prepared and will be submitted by the end of the month, and that will resolve the matter.”
Companies House records show the latest notice is the fourth First Gazette notice for compulsory strike-off issued to the company since April 2024. Earlier notices were published on April 30 and October 1, 2024, and December 2 last year.
The April 2024 action was discontinued the day after Wickham Festivals Limited submitted a confirmation statement to Companies House. The action begun in October 2024 was later suspended, while the process started in December 2025 was suspended in January before being discontinued in May this year.
A First Gazette Notice is not a winding-up order and does not mean a company has already been dissolved.
It is the opening stage of Companies House’s compulsory strike-off process, which can be halted if the outstanding issue is addressed or an objection is made.
Wickham Festivals Limited remains listed as an active company, although Companies House records show it has an active proposal to strike off.
The firm is behind Wickham Festival, which is currently advertising dates for a 2027 event between July 29 and August 1 on its official website.