Reading Festival questioned over 2022 event
Organisers have been questioned by Reading Borough Council
Last updated 16th Nov 2022
The organisers of Reading Festival have been questioned over a number of issues that affected the event this year.
Event organisers Festival Republic recently appeared beforeReading Borough Council’s housing, neighbourhoods & leisure committee meeting, and where asked questions about media reports of a "chaotic environment" on the Sunday.
The event had a mixed record, with progress made on sustainability but the last night being marred by removals, arrests and fires.
Councillor Karen Rowland said: “There were a lot of positive actions that we heard with the policing and the fire watches, and all of those things that went into making it a safe festival.
“But it wasn’t perfect, you know that there were issues on the Sunday, that there were a number of removals, thank goodness the attendees that were removed were this year successfully and carefully taken to ensure they had proper transport home, unlike as we understood last year.”
Thames Valley Police made 37 arrests and ejected 50 people from the site on Sunday.
Cllr Rowland did give representatives an opportunity to respond to the claims made in the media, but Melvin Benn, the managing director of Festival Republic, said he would respond to these in a closed session of the meeting which was undertaken to discuss commercially sensitive information.
Things seemed more positive on the environmental front, with Victoria Chapman, festival sustainability head, reporting a big reduction in tents being left behind by festival goers. Around 38 percent of tents were left behind in 2022, down from 59 percent in 2021.
She reported that none of the waste generated went to landfill, with 55 percent of it being recycled, 12 percent composted, and the rest being burnt for energy.
The issue of safeguarding was also raised, with representatives explaining they operate ‘Ask for Angela’, where people use the phrase to bar staff to identify when they are in danger or are in an uncomfortable situation. A member of staff will then help the person.
The presentation also covered operational changes that were made this year.
Noel Painting, health and safety events organiser said the campsites on the Wednesday opened at 11am, which was earlier than the 6pm time advertised.
The festival will also enact a Challenge 25 policy for the purchase of alcohol in the arena.