Somerset fete-style cider festival falls foul of policing prices
The plug has been pulled on a village fete-style festival to celebrate all things Somerset after claims from organisers the event was suffocated by the police.
The three-day Recydrate the West festival was planned as a party tucked away on the Mendip Hills with traditional scrumpy, dozens of stalls boasting local produce, live music from local bands including West heroes The Wurzels, and Splat the Rat among a programme of classic summer fete-style entertainment.
But organisers were forced to withdraw their licence application this week after police refused to budge on their demand for 18 police officers and 61 security staff to be on site – at a cost of almost £80,000 to the festival.
Recydrate the West's Poppy Stephenson said: “It's really disappointing, but the police were asking so much, we just couldn't afford it. We were looking at £50,000 for the policing, plus about another £30,000 in other costs.
“The event was supposed to be a celebration of local produce and Somerset culture. Just because cider is involved does not automatically mean trouble.”
Police had complained that the event, which was due to attract 2,500 people, would promote excessive drinking and lead to alcohol-related problems.
But Mrs Stephenson said there had been very little opposition from residents of the site at Fern Hill Farm in Compton Martin, near Cheddar, and accused the police of over-reacting.
She said: “We just found the demands ludicrous and they know full well that at this point in time, we won't have time to put in another licence application.
“People enjoy these kind of events in West Country.
“We started the licence process in March and since then it has been very hard to get a meeting with the police.
“I feel bad for the landowner and all the local producers who were planning to come down.”
The event was due to take place between August 29 and 31 and some tickets have already been sold. But the team behind the festival, which was first held on a smaller scale at the site in 2006, have pledged to resurrect it.
Mrs Stephenson said: “We are not going to let the dream die. We are looking at different options and different venues. We've had a good chat with the police since, so hopefully we can make some progress for the future.”
Police said they were concerned about the lack of detail in its management control document.
Chief Inspector Paul Richards said police had been working closely with the organisers to ensure a safe event could go ahead. He said: “The vast majority of issues were agreed, leaving just three to be resolved – traffic management, numbers of security staff and police officer requirements for the event.”
He said police were keen to encourage people to Somerset for a “safe and enjoyable time”.
The decision comes three weeks after police put the pressure on magistrates to revoke a licence for Taunton's Party in Park charity event just days before it was due to take place – again citing concerns about antisocial behaviour.
25 Comments
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by gem from Upton, summerset
Monday, September 01 2008, 11:25AM
“Returned yesterday form the festival! bloody brilliant, took my two young children, aged 9 an 7yrs. They had a great time, they love the wurzels! There was NO trouble, i say there was NO trouble, just fun love and cider! So are we lead to believe that ALL police officers are complete tee totalers who never have a drink!!! why has it come to this, that a festival, Which is celebrating all things somerset-ish has to be moved to WALES!! All i can say is thank you Wales!!”
by sweet soul sister, Bristol
Monday, September 01 2008, 9:47AM
“Have just come back from the Recydrate festival that now went ahead in Wales - it was fab, there was no trouble whatsoever that any of my friends or i heard of and everyone was surprised by the huge amount of police presence at the start on the friday night (and then invisible the rest of the w/e). We drink cider ergo we're all crazed violent lunatics is it? I think not panda bunnies - the proof was most definately in the pudding. Couldn't have been a more peaceful fun loving weekend in the country!”
by Diego Pavlova, Exeter
Wednesday, August 27 2008, 1:52AM
“Well, it doesnt surprise me Avon & Somerset 5-O are spoiling taxpayer's fun- i'm from Weston-super-mare where the authorities do nothing but rob people's money and spend it on crap (ie, themselves), the area is not known for its cultural contribution :( This could've been a great opportunity to boost the area's economic status (as it was intended), and boost the morale of people who have to live & work in a truly boring, dull county. Its becoming obvious that the 'authorities' want to see the area go completely down the toilet. How can you expect sane, passionate people to abide by your ridiculous rules?”
by Jay, In the pigs' Mum's bed
Friday, August 01 2008, 7:18PM
“£80,000 for 15 pigs? That works out as 2 grand per pig, per day. Cheeky sods. Shall we voice our concerns about all the branded booze festivals that go ahead with no opposition? Maybe we should have specified the corporation that makes the cider we all binge on... Hypocrisy. If there are any of you reading this, an explanation would be very welcome... Your hypocrisy and corruption is not going unnoticed. We will prevail over your illusionary concept of control.”
by Sad Cider Drinker, Bristol
Thursday, July 31 2008, 10:04AM
“Illegal Rave it is then??? A few firkins of Kingston Black, a sound system and a Bonfire, what more do we need? Well, Recydrate obviously, it was gunna be my heaven but still, we can't expect the police to forget their ignorance just for us now can we? I still can't believe it, this was going to be the west country weekend of all west country weekends, a huge meeting of mutual cider drinking music lovers. C*&%S”
by Bex, Cheltenham
Thursday, July 31 2008, 9:15AM
“So looking forward to this. I'm totally gutted. Seems to me that the orgainisers backed out a bit quickly though. I read another report that said the police either wanted £80000 or £20 per head. I wouldn't have minded paying an extra £20. This would still be a damn cheap festival. So what now. I've been fighting to get the weekend booked off for ages now I'm money down with nothing to do...”
by Giz, Bristol!
Thursday, July 31 2008, 8:04AM
“wow - this is the gayest news all year.
Wonder how much Police charge clubs in Bristol on a Friday night.....”
by JO, brizzle
Wednesday, July 30 2008, 11:32PM
“#
no wonder there are so many illegal parties and raves when the police are asking £80,000 just in policing costs. it doesn't make sense, how is it justifiable that the Carling Reading festival, sponsored by beer, goes ahead every year? surely that shouldn't happen if the police are worried about anti-social behaviour problems. caused by alcohol. its a total hypocrisy.
Amanda Jones, bristol
commented on 30-Jul-2008 18:32
SPOT ON!!!!!!!!!!!!!!”
by Jay, Streets of Anarchy
Wednesday, July 30 2008, 11:10PM
“So, once again, the police have spoiled a local festival with their greed and selfishness. It's amazing how much real crime is simply ignored by these corrupt ego-maniacs, but as soon as we try to get unite in the name of music and the way WE choose to enjoy ourselves, they come up with some excuse to oppose it. We pay these people's wages just so that they can tell us what not to do with the rest of our money on the weekends. A message to our so-called protectors: The youth of this nation will never respect you until you pull your socks up and begin to actually serve and protect, and stop wasting our money. Until then, we will always turn our noses up at you.”
by J Major, bristol
Wednesday, July 30 2008, 10:44PM
“It seems Avon and Somerset Police are going out of their way to stop any new festivals from happening in our local area, what is the problem with people having a bit of fun drinking cider and listening to local bands in the english sunshine?”