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Festival at risk as row goes on
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| POPULAR: The Isle of Wight Festival. |
A BIG question mark hangs over the future of the Isle of Wight Festival after police and organisers failed to reach agreement over costs at a crucial licence hearing last night.
As a result of the dispute Island councillors were unable to grant a licence for an event that is expected to attract nearly 70,000 music lovers.
Councillors have agreed to adjourn the licence hearing until April 23 while festival promoters Solo and police continue negotiations over the cost of policing the event.
The hearing was told police had this year asked organisers for between £250,000 and £300,000 towards the cost of policing the event.
Last year the cost to Solo was £120,000.
Representing Solo, David Clifton said they were provided with a breakdown of police costs on March 14 and there had been insufficient time to consider that breakdown ahead of last night's hearing.
Under licensing laws the council must be assured that adequate policing would be provided before it could give the event the go-ahead.
This year Solo have applied for a three-year licence for the festival, to be headlined in June by the Sex Pistols, Kaiser Chiefs and The Police.
They have asked for permission for an extra 10,000 people to be allowed on the site, raising the capacity to 69,999.
Organiser John Giddings, who was unable to attend last night's hearing due to personal reasons, has said previously, however, the number of tickets on sale would remain 55,000 and the extra capacity was for additional staff and acts.
"I have been told by Solo that they have every wish to continue and conclude these negotiations because unless that happens the IW Festival is at risk," said Mr Clifton, who added that he thought an agreement could be reached.
"We do not want to be in this position and I sincerely believe that the police do not want to be either."
Inspector Terry Clawson told the hearing that on two occasions when speaking to Solo about the cost of policing the applicant "would not budge on their stance".
He agreed to continue negotiations ahead of next month's hearing.
1:01pm Thursday 27th March 2008
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CommentPosted by: Steve, Bitterne on 1:18pm Thu 27 Mar 08
The Festival is very peace full and low on crime. The Police are trying to make money by holding a gun to the organisers heads. Whilst i agree that the Policeing should be paid for they should just cover their cost and not make money out of this. Last years festival was covered mainly by private security and i don't ever remmember seeing any Police on or around the site. Yet again our Police are going to be seen in a bad light and any respect that many young persons have for the force will be erroded away if they cause the cancellation of the festival.
The Festival is very peace full and low on crime. The Police are trying to make money by holding a gun to the organisers heads. Whilst i agree that the Policeing should be paid for they should just cover their cost and not make money out of this. Last years festival was covered mainly by private security and i don't ever remmember seeing any Police on or around the site. Yet again our Police are going to be seen in a bad light and any respect that many young persons have for the force will be erroded away if they cause the cancellation of the festival.
Posted by: Family Man, Bitterne on 1:31pm Thu 27 Mar 08
It seems to very much be a case of "Either you pay what we demand or you don't have a Festival" which amounts to at best an exploitation of a monopoly situation and at worst blackmail. I wonder, purely as a matter of interest, how much political parties have to pay for the security of their party conferences, in Bournemouth, or Brighton...Do they pay the full cost, part of the cost or are they exempt... I get the impression it is one rule for them and one for us, and, as a direct result of the exorbitant cost demanded to police the events that give a large number of people a great deal of pleasure, that many events are being increasingly being priced out of the market and as such it is our choice and quality of life that ultimately suffers. Such a shame that life seems to be losing its colour in favour of the greyness of political correctness and an unhealthy obsession with Health and Safety.
It seems to very much be a case of "Either you pay what we demand or you don't have a Festival" which amounts to at best an exploitation of a monopoly situation and at worst blackmail. I wonder, purely as a matter of interest, how much political parties have to pay for the security of their party conferences, in Bournemouth, or Brighton...Do they pay the full cost, part of the cost or are they exempt... I get the impression it is one rule for them and one for us, and, as a direct result of the exorbitant cost demanded to police the events that give a large number of people a great deal of pleasure, that many events are being increasingly being priced out of the market and as such it is our choice and quality of life that ultimately suffers. Such a shame that life seems to be losing its colour in favour of the greyness of political correctness and an unhealthy obsession with Health and Safety.
Posted by: workin, N'ampshur on 1:51pm Thu 27 Mar 08
How about an alternative to rip-off buck passing police who will generally be heavy handed, poorly prepared and end up making an apology afterwards anyway.
Could festival ticket holdrs sign a contract to behave, not indulge in too many illicit substances, refrain from tresspass and other specific requests on paper and stick to it.
The police and other bodies expect it to work on reprobate violent and criminal teenagers, so why not on adult reponsible people who choose to attend a public gathering.
How about an alternative to rip-off buck passing police who will generally be heavy handed, poorly prepared and end up making an apology afterwards anyway.
Could festival ticket holdrs sign a contract to behave, not indulge in too many illicit substances, refrain from tresspass and other specific requests on paper and stick to it.
The police and other bodies expect it to work on reprobate violent and criminal teenagers, so why not on adult reponsible people who choose to attend a public gathering.
Posted by: Soton Resident, Chilworth on 1:58pm Thu 27 Mar 08
What the organisers, and indeed some sections of society seem to believe is that there is some 'magic pot' where Police Officers can be pulled from at a moments notice with no real operational impact or cost, the reality however is substantially different. In order for there to be no abstraction of operational officers across the county, every officer required for this festival will be working on one of their days off, and as such can deservedly expect to be entitled to an enhanced rate of pay. This festival is a private event, run by the organisers to make a profit. If the organisers don't like the license conditions and the cost of those conditions (i.e. policing) then they have a simple business decision to make in terms of whether they run the event or not.
What the organisers, and indeed some sections of society seem to believe is that there is some 'magic pot' where Police Officers can be pulled from at a moments notice with no real operational impact or cost, the reality however is substantially different. In order for there to be no abstraction of operational officers across the county, every officer required for this festival will be working on one of their days off, and as such can deservedly expect to be entitled to an enhanced rate of pay. This festival is a private event, run by the organisers to make a profit. If the organisers don't like the license conditions and the cost of those conditions (i.e. policing) then they have a simple business decision to make in terms of whether they run the event or not.
Posted by: Robbing Ton on 2:09pm Thu 27 Mar 08
I love nicking stuff at festivals, such an easy thing, people so stoned, drunk and pilled up its unture, think i made around £6000 on other peoples missery last year.
Also werent RHCP good?
I love nicking stuff at festivals, such an easy thing, people so stoned, drunk and pilled up its unture, think i made around £6000 on other peoples missery last year.
Also werent RHCP good?
Posted by: poor me on 3:03pm Thu 27 Mar 08
[I love nicking stuff at festivals, such an easy thing, people so stoned, drunk and pilled up its unture, think i made around £6000 on other peoples missery last year.
Also werent RHCP good?]
Can I have my £200 back please???
Can I have my £200 back please???
Posted by: Blissfields Festival, Matterley Bowl, Winchester on 3:23pm Thu 27 Mar 08
Some festivals really aren't run for money-making reasons but for a genuine love of music and providing people with a great time.
It's a difficult balance to strike but everyone wants to run safe secure festivals, but the huge amounts of money as people might think are made is not always the case.
Good luck to the parties getting it resolved as it will be shame if the event is cancelled for all the people who want to go and have purchased tickets.
Some festivals really aren't run for money-making reasons but for a genuine love of music and providing people with a great time.
It's a difficult balance to strike but everyone wants to run safe secure festivals, but the huge amounts of money as people might think are made is not always the case.
Good luck to the parties getting it resolved as it will be shame if the event is cancelled for all the people who want to go and have purchased tickets.
Posted by: Frankie, WESTON on 4:47pm Thu 27 Mar 08
there were not even police outside directing traffic last year so where do we get this figure from and how do you suppose the coppers working on their day off will actually spend their double time?
there were not even police outside directing traffic last year so where do we get this figure from and how do you suppose the coppers working on their day off will actually spend their double time?
Posted by: gorf, soton on 9:47pm Thu 27 Mar 08
www.freerangefestiva
l.com
www.freerangefestiva
l.com
Posted by: workin, N'Ampshur on 11:55am Fri 28 Mar 08
[quote][bold]Soton Resident[/bold] wrote:
What the organisers, and indeed some sections of society seem to believe is that there is some 'magic pot' where Police Officers can be pulled from at a moments notice with no real operational impact or cost, the reality however is substantially different. In order for there to be no abstraction of operational officers across the county, every officer required for this festival will be working on one of their days off, and as such can deservedly expect to be entitled to an enhanced rate of pay. This festival is a private event, run by the organisers to make a profit. If the organisers don't like the license conditions and the cost of those conditions (i.e. policing) then they have a simple business decision to make in terms of whether they run the event or not. [/quote] Coppers, love quoting the force rhetoric verbatim and love the double-bubble.
Tough life getting paid to attend a festival and be paid, avoiding the "operational impact" of detecting criminals for the more subtle approach of nicking motorists to improve detection performance / target ratio.
As for the Short notice - when is the festival ??
Soton Resident wrote:
What the organisers, and indeed some sections of society seem to believe is that there is some 'magic pot' where Police Officers can be pulled from at a moments notice with no real operational impact or cost, the reality however is substantially different. In order for there to be no abstraction of operational officers across the county, every officer required for this festival will be working on one of their days off, and as such can deservedly expect to be entitled to an enhanced rate of pay. This festival is a private event, run by the organisers to make a profit. If the organisers don't like the license conditions and the cost of those conditions (i.e. policing) then they have a simple business decision to make in terms of whether they run the event or not.
Coppers, love quoting the force rhetoric verbatim and love the double-bubble.
Tough life getting paid to attend a festival and be paid, avoiding the "operational impact" of detecting criminals for the more subtle approach of nicking motorists to improve detection performance / target ratio.
As for the Short notice - when is the festival ??
Posted by: Fat Boy on 8:56am Sat 29 Mar 08
Whenever I've been the only police that I ever see is the ones with the sniffer dogs at the main entrance. Seems like it provides them with a good opportunity to catch drug dealers/takers. I'm not saying the policing shouldn't cost anything but almost a 200% increase on last year seems a bit OTT.
Whenever I've been the only police that I ever see is the ones with the sniffer dogs at the main entrance. Seems like it provides them with a good opportunity to catch drug dealers/takers. I'm not saying the policing shouldn't cost anything but almost a 200% increase on last year seems a bit OTT.
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