The organisers of Reading Festival have responded to a number of issues that affected this year’s event, particularly concerns over crime, fires and sustainability.
Festival Republic met with Reading councillors for a debrief session.
The event had a mixed record, with progress made on sustainability but the final night was marred by arrests and fires.
After the festival, the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS) interviewed Leone Cook who suffered burns on the Sunday.
Organisers and emergency services were praised for being reactive to incidents.
Cllr Karen Rowland (Labour, Abbey) 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 claims made over the alleged “chaotic” environment on Sunday.
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.
There was also unhappiness about the impact of the festival on residents.
The LDRS spoke to a neighbour in Caversham who complained at the time that the smell coming from the site was “awful” and kept her up at night.
She also argued that there is a lack of complaints policy, with the only procedures being the Festival Republic email or informing the council.
Another Caversham neighbour expressed shock when his driveway was used by festivalgoers without permission.
Festival Republic was praised for setting up its first Eco Camp, which will have capacity for 2000 in 2023, and is free to sign up for.
Cllr Glenn Dennis (Labour, Kentwood), who attended the festival, said: “Speaking to some of the camp dwellers, they really did enjoy that.
“I spoke to one of the gentlemen there who wasn’t going to come to Reading Festival this time, he’s been to the festival a few times, but he didn’t like the trashy nature of the camps.
“As an older reveller he just wasn’t up for it, but when he heard about the eco-camp, he said ‘right, let’s give it a go’ and he was absolutely bowled over.”
Victoria Chapman, festival sustainability head, reported that 38% of tents were left behind in 2022, down from 59% in 2021.
She also stressed all bottles are made of recycled plastic, rather than ‘virgin’ plastics.
None of the waste generated went to landfill, with 55%of it being recycled, 12% composted, and a combined 31.30% of it being burnt for energy.
Cllr Doug Creswell (Green, Katesgrove) called sustainability “the elephant in the room” when he asked a question about the figures.
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.
Charlotte Oliver, Festival Republic licensing coordinator, said the company is “ahead of the ball” on safeguarding issues.
As well as running ‘Ask for Angela’ the festival also has safe hubs, a Brook Sexual Health & Wellbeing and Safe Gigs for Women tents and a base for Reading Street Pastors.
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.
Also, the festival will enact a Challenge 25 policy for the purchase of alcohol in the arena.
The presentation and Q&A took place at a Reading Borough Council’s housing, neighbourhoods & leisure committee meeting on Wednesday, November 9.
