Isle of Wight looks beyond rain

The Isle of Wight Festival has stepped up its weather defences in light of the floods that caused major problems in 2012, turning car parks into quagmire and leading to log-jammed local roads. Organiser John Giddings told the NME "I've expanded the car parks and created some proper roads into the entrances and exits so I can never have a repeat of what happened last year, where it was so wet the car park entrances collapsed" adding that in 2012  "We had a month's worth of rain in 12 hours. People told me it was freak weather, but we have to prepare ourselves [nevertheless]." The Isle of Wight Festival takes place at Seaclose Park from June 14 to 16 headlined by The Stone Roses, Killers and Bon Jovi.  http://www.isleofwightfestival.com/

Benn has plans for two more UK festivals

Festival Republic boss Melvin Benn has told BBC 6Music that he is considering possibly launching two new festivals in 2012. Benn revealed he is considering launching a new event next year, possibly a twin event, with the main focus outside of music, although he didn't reveal what exactly the focus would be adding it was "too early" to reveal the details for the events which he felt there was "a market for a festival in a space that doesn't currently exist.". In other UK news, both the Isle of Wight Festival and the Big Chill both look likely to move their dates in a busy British summer. The Isle of Wight is planning to move into the vacant 'Glastonbury weekend' from June 22nd to 24th because of problems with busy ferries to and from the Island caused by the Queen's Diamond Jubilee, and Benn is considering moving the Big Chill as it cashes with the London 2012 Olympics.

Isle of Wight increase 20,000 too many?

Ventnorblog.com reports that organisers of the Isle of Wight Festival have indicated to the local council that they want to increase the capacity of the Festival to 89,999. The application (unusually in the UK) has top pass a two stage hurdle - The Isle of Wight Act, brought in after the huge number of people attending the 1970 festival, and the a License Act application. The event organisers have submitted the IW Act application to the council. The Blog spoke to Cllr Geoff Lumley who had brought up the matter at the Full Council meeting this week and whose Pan ward is close to the Festival’s site, “At the licensing committee three years ago, when they wanted to increase the numbers to 70,000, which was too many, John Giddings (Festival organiser), as I recall, said he would never need more than 70,000 – and here we are with an application for 90,000" adding “My concerns are that this is 20,000 people too many.” It’s understood that council officers are currently preparing a consultation for the event. The Blog further reports Cllr Lumley saying “We’re not against the Festival at all. We just think that it’s too big now for where it is.”

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