Festival survey results revealed

Annabel Williams • Published 26 Nov 2009 09:00 2 Comments

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READING Festival's nearest neighbours are not its biggest fans, a survey has revealed.

Only three per cent of Caversham and Emmer Green residents said they pay to go to the August rock and pop festival.

But less than 10% of 750 questionnaires delivered by Warren and District Residents' Association (Wadra) and others emailed were returned.

Chairman Robin Bentham launched the document in response to a business impact survey commissioned by festival organisers, Festival Republic.

Of Wadra's 72 responses almost as many love it (13%) as loathe it (14%).

Despite the poor response Mr Bentham claimed: "Clearly, Reading Festival continues to have a significant impact on our area.

"Residents in the front line, living in The Warren and on the Scarp bear the brunt of the noise and disturbance as reflected by the location of the stronger anti-festival comments.

"The Festival was considered to have been better managed this year, apart from the rampage and fires on the Sunday night."

Comments included: "We anticipate the problems and take measures to avoid them" and "The visitors seem fine. They must give the area an economic boost".

Anti-festival comments included: "Not my type of music. Garden is far too noisy so stay inside" and "This event in fact starts on the Wednesday and ends on the following Tuesday, making our house uninhabitable for six days".

Some 51% 'do not mind' the festival but 20% disliked it.

Performance sound levels were "OK" for 51%, "a bit too loud" for 21% and "much too loud" for 22%.

Next year's Reading Festival dates are Friday, August 27- Sunday, August 29.

The capacity is 86,500 and for the second year there will be no tickets sold on the gate.

Early release tickets have already sold out. The next release will be in spring when weekend camping tickets will cost £180.

Festival staff will join members of The Salvation Army on Monday, December 7 to pack donated non-perishable unwanted food given by this year's festival-goers.

The donations will be made up into more than 500 parcels by the team of volunteers and delivered to single people and families nominated by local community groups, in time for Christmas.

This article appeared in Reading Chronicle 26 Nov 09

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tony
Unregistered User
Nov 26, 23:36
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Why is it that only the posh people of Caversham have been asked?? Those of us who live near the site in West Reading also have a view. My neighbour loves it (and goes). I am fed up with having my August Bank holiday ruined every year for the last 20. But then I am just a silly old f**t.

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Reading Observer
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Nov 27, 04:19
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Tony - it's nothing to do with social class. The survey was conducted by the Warren and District Resident's Association which by it's nature is resticted to their location. If you have a resident's association, they too could conduct such a survey.

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