About 20,000 people paid up to £125 each, but the Big Green Gathering was cancelled at the last minute. Months later some are still waiting for their moneyPeople who booked tickets for a leading green festival cancelled in July are growing worried they will not be refunded, even though some handed over their cash almost a year ago, Guardian Money can reveal.Up to 20,000 people were expected at this year's Big Green Gathering, a five-day festival in the Mendip Hills in Somerset, described as "a celebration of our natural world and our place within it", which was set to kick off on 29 July. But only days before the gates were due to open, the event was cancelled.There has been much debate in green circles about how and why the festival was scrapped – in August, the Guardian carried an article by George Monbiot that explored some of the theoriesThe directors claim they had no option but to voluntarily surrender the event licence after being "stitched up" by the police and council officials.But whatever the reason, some of those who shelled out for tickets are unhappy that they are still waiting for their money.It appears that those who bought via leading ticket agencies, from local shops or from tourist information bureaus, will get – or have received – a full refund, but people who booked directly with the organisation, either via its website or by sending a cheque to its office, are in a different position.Last December, Liz Smith bought an "earlybird" ticket costing £115 directly from the Big Green Gathering office. "We'd been before to this festival and decided to go again this year," she says. Smith paid by cheque and says she received a receipt confirming tickets would be sent out in April, which did not happen.Following the cancellation, information about refunds was put on the festival website. But, on downloading the refund form, Smith says she was irritated by the "flippant" and "patronising" tone.The form certainly seems
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