Reading Festival return will be dependent on testing trials
Council issues statement to clarify its position after it was revealed last week no licence has been issued for the festival
Last updated 4th Mar 2021
The success of trial testing in April could determine whether Reading Festival goes ahead this summer, the council has said.
Last week it was revealed the council hadn't yet agreed to the festival going ahead this summer but in a new statement the council say they would "love it to return".
This follows the announcement from Festival Republic last Wednesday (February 24) that it expects the event to go ahead this August, with the event selling out just days later.
A council spokesman said:
“Reading Festival is a major highlight of the cultural calendar in Reading and, like everyone, the council would love to see it return this summer.
“The council notes Festival Republic’s announcement last week that it would like to push ahead with this year’s festival, but the government has been clear its roadmap is dependent on many aspects.
“For large events like the festival, the government plans to pilot testing approaches from April.
“The outcome of that work, alongside event information submitted by Festival Republic and national guidance, will help the council and public health colleagues make a decision on whether the festival can go ahead safely this summer.”
Councillor Graeme Hoskin, RBCs lead member for Health and Wellbeing, said last week “nothing has been agreed by the council” on whether the event can go ahead and the decison would be a “major item” for the council’s licensing department and national bodies to consider.
The government hopes to lift all remaining restrictions on social contact by June 21 at the earliest.
As part of the roadmap, an events research programme in set to launch in April, with trial events at nightclubs, stadiums, theatres, concerts and other events venues to take place with volunteers.
Results from the pilots starting in April would be reported back to parliament before June 21.
But MPs Theresa Villiers and Ben Bradley, who sit on the All-Party Parliamentary Groups for Events and Sports, have expressed concern planned pilot events will start too late and urged Culture, Media and Sport minister Oliver Dowden to ensure studies from previous event pilots in the autumn are taken into account.
In a letter to Mr Dowden, they said: “The new set of pilots need to focus on a risk-based solution that is dependent on the situation, venue, audience numbers, and type of event.
“Any new requirements in relation to proof of a test or a vaccination need to be proportionate, operationally feasible, affordable and consistent with protection of individual privacy.”