Organisers ‘deeply disappointed’ as music event cancelled due to road closure

According to event organisers, accessing the location would require a 12-mile detour due to the road closure

A road closure has forced the cancellation of a community music event in a village just outside of Cambridgeshire. Ashdon Windmill’s ‘Music at the Mill’ event was scheduled for Sunday, June 14, to raise money for the historic community building.

Organisers of the event have since announced that it will no longer go ahead due to a road closure cutting off direct access to the windmill from the village. The event was scheduled to host a day of music at the windmill with artists performing throughout.

Organisers said: “We are deeply disappointed to cancel this event and apologise to everyone who was planning to join us. However, we are already working on alternative plans to bring the community together.”

With the road closure in force, accessing the windmill now requires a 12-mile detour through Saffron Walden, Little Walden, Hadstock, and Bartlow – adding a 30-minute round trip for visitors, according to the organisers. This has made it difficult for organisers, performers, and attendees to access the venue easily.

A spokesperson for Affinity Water said: “We’re sorry to hear that the Music at the Mill event has been cancelled. The works taking place in Ashdon are part of an essential programme to replace ageing water mains in the village. This will help improve the reliability of the water supply and reduce the likelihood of bursts and leaks in the future.

“Our current works on Churchill are scheduled to be completed by 2nd of July 2026. However, due to challenging ground conditions, our delivery partner has advised that a short extension may be required, potentially into early August. We will continue to closely monitor progress and share updates with the community should timings change.”

Despite the delays, organisers are planning to reschedule the music event to July. They also plan to combine it with another local event called the annual summer craft fair.

A trustee for the event said that the cancellation has been “very disappointing” as they will “lose out on some much needed funds”. The Ashdon Windmill was built in 1757 by William Haylock, a carpenter of Ashdon. Nowadays, the mill is owned by Ashdon Windmill Trust, a registered charity.