GKN Aerospace have lodged an application for the Isle of Wight Festival licence to be reviewed.
Readers will remember that waterlogged car parking fields resulted in unprecedented traffic gridlock over many hours on Thursday 21st June as the festival opened to festival-goers.
In their application, GKN’s Managing Director says they believe that the lack any credible contingency planning by organisers of the festival, Solo, resulted in a clear threat to public safety on 21st and 22nd June 2012.
Back in May 2011, the Isle of Wight licensing committee, chaired by Susan Scoccia, granted Solo a licence in perpetuity for the Isle of Wight Festival at Seaclose Park with a capacity of 90,000.
Looking at the document in detail (which you can too, below), we’ve picked out the following sections.
“A direct threat to the public safety of the residents of the Island”
The section titled Public Safety starts, “It is self-evident that any disruption to the road or ferry network on the Isle of Wight will have severe consequences for public safety on the Island. Any additional congestion to the existing road network would have fatal consequences in the event that the emergency service are unable to move freely around the Island. On the 21st and 22nd June, 2012, it would have been impossible for the Ambulance, Police or Fire Service to attend any emergencies and was a direct threat to the public safety of the residents of the Island.
“The clear threat to public safety on the 21st and 22nd June, 2012 is directly attributable to the Solo Promoters and the inability to organise and run the Festival in a safe and credible manner. The residents and businesses on the Isle of Wight cannot accept such a threat in future years and the Isle of Wight council is under a clear obligation to take action to stop such a threat.”
“A direct and substantial loss to GKN”
The final section, Prevention of Public Nuisance, points to what they label as “the corresponding failure of Solo Promotions [and of the Isle of Wight council], to implement adequate traffic and travel plans caused a direct and substantial loss to GKN Aerospace Services by obstructing and preventing GKN employees attending work on the 21st and 22nd June, 2012. Such a nuisance, or any future nuisance that disrupts the business of GKN Aerospace, is not acceptable.”
They say, having consulted with local businesses and residents, “The overwhelming consensus of residents and businesses on the Isle of Wight is that the festival does not contribute significantly to the local economy and will constitute and on-going public nuisance in its current form.”
“Inexplicable decision by Solo Promoters”
Under the heading Prevention of Crime and Disorder, the GKN application says,
“This disruption led to disorder in and around the port areas of East Cowes (including the premises of GKN Aerospace Services) and the surrounding areas of the Licensed Premises. Large numbers of individuals attending the Festival were forced to leave their vehicles and congregate in large numbers of seek shelter until Solo Promoters decided to open the gates to the Licensed Premises.
“The unnecessary and inexplicable decision by Solo Promoters to keep the access to the Licensed Premises closed could have easily led to increased disorder in and around the premises of GKN Aerospace Services and the Licensed Premises.”
“A clear annual consultation process required”
The final sentence of the GKN document calls for action, “If the licence if not revoked than at the very least the terms of the licence should be amended to include a clear annual consultation process involving local businesses and residents of the Island to ensure no future nuisance, disorder or risk to public safety occurs.”
Event Safety and Operational Plan remains secret
Readers will remember that questions were raised over adequate contingency planning at the time and after some investigative work by Retired Hack, On The Wight was able to reveal back in August that Stuart Love and George Brown had failed to sign off the ‘Event Safety and Operational Plan’ prior to the event in 2012.
Have your say
Residents can comment on the application (number: 74535) but must do so by 1st November 2012.
See the application on the council website.
Image: Simon Haytack under CC BY 2.0
