After the unprecedented situation that arose last week when problems getting into the Isle of Wight Festival site led to traffic chaos on the Island, it’s not surprising that many residents or festival goers felt the need to share their views.
A number of Facebook Groups, Pages and online petitions have popped up over the five days, some out of frustration at what had happened, others pitching in to offer support.
Here are some that we’d been made aware of.
“Medina College Parents Against Festival Site”
A group of parents unhappy with the impact of the festival on students at Medina College joined forces with the aim of putting pressure on the Isle of Wight council to move the festival to an alternative site.
The Group called Medina College Parents Against Festival Site currently has 38 members.
According to the Group’s page, Cllr Dawn Cousins has agreed to meet with the group to discuss issues raised and hear their concerns.
Petition to reduce capacity
Another Island resident, Jason Bunce, created an online petition calling on Police and the IWC to review the capacity of the festival and reduce it from 90,000 to 30,000.
Jason’s online petition currently has 166 signatures.
(VB understands that although the capacity was agreed for 90,000 last year, ticket sales were capped at 55,000)
“Wight Residents Voice for The Isle of Wight Festival”
A Facebook page was also set up to gather views on the situation with the Festival.
Called Wight Residents Voice for The Isle of Wight Festival the page had 40 ‘Likes’ at time of publishing.
“Isle of Wight Festival: Stay the Same!”
Not everyone was outraged.
It’s worth highlighting that many festival goers, despite being stuck in traffic and mud themselves, said they felt the issue was being blown out of proportion.
An online petition created by Ben Jayston for the Isle of Wight Festival to Stay the Same! calls for the festival to remain at its current site and with the same capacity.
At time of publishing, it had 29 signatures.
Isle of Wight Festival 2012 Survivors
We also found one group with a great name and great cover image, the Isle of Wight Festival Survivors 2012 set up by Donna Woodward Taylor.
It’s mission? “Please share your Survival Stories so that we can work with organisers to try to ensure that future festival-goers visiting our beautiful Island have the best possible experience.”
Image: © Donna Woodward Taylor
