Following the strong reaction from Islanders last week, Solo, the company that runs Isle of Wight Festival, has taken the decision to drop their request to have a discounted rate for the rental of Seaclose Park.
Last Thursday it was revealed that John Giddings had originally asked the council for a 100% discount on the £55,000 fee that the Festival currently pay to use the land the Festival is hosted on. This was rejected.
Council officers had proposed that the current £55k fee could drop to £13k – a reduction of over three quarters. Four of the things that the council is responsible for the during the event would have been taken over by Solo as part of the deal.
‘Clarification’
Late this afternoon the council issued a five paragraph statement (below) – titled “Isle of Wight Festival Clarification” – which stresses that the council hasn’t said that Festival ticket sales haven’t decreased, but “In fact ticket sales have seen a significant increase in recent years.”
It concludes
“As a result of the incorrect media inferences about the event, Solo has withdrawn its request to the council and will work with it to look at other alternatives to help reducing the costs of staging the event.”
The statement provides no details as to where these ‘incorrect media inferences’ were supposed to have occurred.
The statement in full:
ISLE OF WIGHT FESTIVAL CLARIFICATION
An Isle of Wight Council spokesperson, said: “The Isle of Wight Council has worked closely with Solo Promoters Ltd over the past 15 years to facilitate the Isle of Wight Festival, which generates around £10 million per year to the Island’s economy.
“The council was approached by Solo with a request to vary the terms to its current agreement to use Seaclose Park – and has a responsibility to its residents to consider the request openly and transparently. As a result a report was due to be considered by the council’s Executive on Thursday 13 October containing a wide range of background information to help inform councillors in their decision making.
“The council would like to make it clear that it has not, as reported, said that ticket sales have decreased. In fact ticket sales have seen a significant increase in recent years. However, the report does make it clear that the costs of staging the festival are increasing and as such Solo incur many additional running costs each year beyond simply booking the acts.
“The report sought to make it clear that Solo has two choices regarding the increasing costs – to reduce its running costs or to raise ticket prices. Solo has always been committed to offering their festival goers the best value for money and do not believe it’s fair that the fans are the ones left to contribute to rising costs, hence its approach to the council to vary the terms of the current agreement.”
As a result of the incorrect media inferences about the event, Solo has withdrawn its request to the council and will work with it to look at other alternatives to help reducing the costs of staging the event.
Image: Eva Rinaldi under CC BY 2.0
