Crowd control issues

[Leyrulion]

11 hours ago, DeanoL said:

They've literally said the opposite though. And I can't get behind the mental gymnastics some people are doing "I'm sure they know their is a problem they're just not allowed to say".

Especially because on the face of it, any work they've done to enact the council's recommendations (linked above) haven't worked and the situation is worse now.

[GeezLouise]

On 8/31/2022 at 10:14 AM, GeezLouise said:

Sorry to spam the thread, this is what I replied with:

 

My email below does not mention a daughter so I must assume that a previous response has been copied and pasted and my earlier email not actually read? But it also implies that other people have been raising the same concerns regarding over crowding. 

 

Your email below seems to imply that you will only take action on overcrowding and crushes when medical attention is sought or there are casualties, which is concerning

 

I attended Reading Festival this weekend (which obviously has its own set of problems to contend with) and there were no issues with overcrowding. It was really easy to get from main stage east to main stage west without ever feeling stressed with the size of the crowd (pretty much all of whom were going from one main stage to the next). Food was easy to get without insane lines that you get at Glastonbury. All the tent stages were okay to get in without any overcrowding at the edges. It really put into perspective how much my enjoyment of the festival was spoiled this year by overcrowding and the small annoyances that come along with the frightening larger issues. 

Glasto Response:

We certainly don’t mean to state that there were no injuries as a measure of success, we mentioned this only to reassure you that there were no reported injuries as a result!

 

Thank you for your feedback, we will pass your comments onto the relevant team to take into consideration when planning for future Festivals.

[Sawdusty surfer]

On 8/31/2022 at 9:57 PM, stuie said:

Thanks for sharing… informative but where’s Roy’s corner? I know the site fairly well after 10 years and stewarding but don’t think I’ve heard these names before! 

I've never heard of it before but it just has to be the junction of Undleground, Unfair ground, Block 9 on the railway line. It's named after Roy Gurvitz AKA Wierd Beard. 

In the first or second year of the casino, before LV was properly established, there was a sign there in the Glastonbury font saying and pointing to 'Field of Roy' 

Edited September 2, 2022 by Sawdusty surfer

[Pinhead]

There was also a sign calling it the Weird Beard field in 95, maybe 97 as well (pic somewhere of it), so I agree - its the entrance to SL off the railway line where the ballroom used to be, where the diner / rocket lounge still is, and where the afterburner was in 08 I think.

[Ayrshire Chris]

Even when the festival isn’t on there is overcrowding at a pinch point 

[gooner1990]

On 9/3/2022 at 11:12 AM, Pinhead said:

There was also a sign calling it the Weird Beard field in 95, maybe 97 as well (pic somewhere of it), so I agree - its the entrance to SL off the railway line where the ballroom used to be, where the diner / rocket lounge still is, and where the afterburner was in 08 I think.

That's my memory of 2008 as well......can't recall its location in 2009.

In 2010 it was in the field that now houses Block 9/NYC Downlow (I think ?!)

[Crazyfool01]

On 9/6/2022 at 11:57 AM, Ayrshire Chris said:

Even when the festival isn’t on there is overcrowding at a pinch point 

Not enough crowd moovement between bands 

[Pinhead]

5 hours ago, gooner1990 said:

That's my memory of 2008 as well......can't recall its location in 2009.

In 2010 it was in the field that now houses Block 9/NYC Downlow (I think ?!)

2009 it had moved 'across the path' right of an 'arc bar' kind of stage and had gained some dancing platforms...

[Breeze]

Sounds like some of the crushes were as bad as 2000. And we all know what happened after that. Is the fence more porous than it is made out or does the site size and stewarding not kept in line with licensing numbers? 

[MEGATRONICMEATWAGON]

On 8/31/2022 at 10:14 AM, GeezLouise said:

Sorry to spam the thread, this is what I replied with:

 

My email below does not mention a daughter so I must assume that a previous response has been copied and pasted and my earlier email not actually read? But it also implies that other people have been raising the same concerns regarding over crowding. 

 

Your email below seems to imply that you will only take action on overcrowding and crushes when medical attention is sought or there are casualties, which is concerning

 

I attended Reading Festival this weekend (which obviously has its own set of problems to contend with) and there were no issues with overcrowding. It was really easy to get from main stage east to main stage west without ever feeling stressed with the size of the crowd (pretty much all of whom were going from one main stage to the next). Food was easy to get without insane lines that you get at Glastonbury. All the tent stages were okay to get in without any overcrowding at the edges. It really put into perspective how much my enjoyment of the festival was spoiled this year by overcrowding and the small annoyances that come along with the frightening larger issues. 

Fair play for keeping up the pressure and not letting their copy and paste answers go ignored. It can be frustrating when a multi-national ignores complaints, but it's jarring when a place such as Glastonbury does the same.

I hope that with enough people emailing them, things are changing in the background and they'll have a plan to minimise the same mistakes for next year.

[Skip997]

On 9/8/2022 at 12:28 PM, Breeze said:

Sounds like some of the crushes were as bad as 2000. And we all know what happened after that. Is the fence more porous than it is made out or does the site size and stewarding not kept in line with licensing numbers? 

One thing I noticed this year was the lack of a "security sweep". This used to happen on the Wednesday, with the purpose of finding people without valid wristbands and vehicles without an on-site pass.

[Fuss]

Hi all,

Long time reader first time poster.

I've been to a few Glasto's, and next year is the first time I'm not even going to try and get tickets in the last 10 years.

I freely admit I might be getting older (I'm 36), but I really don't think I can just blame age related sensibilities.

There was so much casual cocaine use, loutishness and violence this year (Yes, Arcadia usually has an edge, but it was EVERYWHERE this year). As early as 8pm the entire festival took a turn, the atmosphere nose-dived, and it became quite an intimidating place and there were a hell of alot of fights, knives and threats. 

I'm a season ticket holder for my local football club, so I see quite a lot of "lads lads lads" type behaviour, but it doesn't usually have the level of menace that Glastonbury had this year.

Don't get me wrong, the warm friendly sense of community and good times are still there in abundance during the day, but I don't want to go to half a festival again.

To me it looks like it'll go the same way as Reading and Leeds in the long-term. A real shame.

[stuie]

2 minutes ago, Fuss said:

Hi all,

Long time reader first time poster.

I've been to a few Glasto's, and next year is the first time I'm not even going to try and get tickets in the last 10 years.

I freely admit I might be getting older (I'm 36), but I really don't think I can just blame age related sensibilities.

There was so much casual cocaine use, loutishness and violence this year (Yes, Arcadia usually has an edge, but it was EVERYWHERE this year). As early as 8pm the entire festival took a turn, the atmosphere nose-dived, and it became quite an intimidating place and there were a hell of alot of fights, knives and threats. 

I'm a season ticket holder for my local football club, so I see quite a lot of "lads lads lads" type behaviour, but it doesn't usually have the level of menace that Glastonbury had this year.

Don't get me wrong, the warm friendly sense of community and good times are still there in abundance during the day, but I don't want to go to half a festival again.

To me it looks like it'll go the same way as Reading and Leeds in the long-term. A real shame.

I read this and it sounds like a different festival to the one I was at! Knives, fights and threats? 

Didn't see anything like that at all. 

[leath02]

lol knives and fights, you sure?

5 minutes ago, Fuss said:

Hi all,

Long time reader first time poster.

I've been to a few Glasto's, and next year is the first time I'm not even going to try and get tickets in the last 10 years.

I freely admit I might be getting older (I'm 36), but I really don't think I can just blame age related sensibilities.

There was so much casual cocaine use, loutishness and violence this year (Yes, Arcadia usually has an edge, but it was EVERYWHERE this year). As early as 8pm the entire festival took a turn, the atmosphere nose-dived, and it became quite an intimidating place and there were a hell of alot of fights, knives and threats. 

I'm a season ticket holder for my local football club, so I see quite a lot of "lads lads lads" type behaviour, but it doesn't usually have the level of menace that Glastonbury had this year.

Don't get me wrong, the warm friendly sense of community and good times are still there in abundance during the day, but I don't want to go to half a festival again.

To me it looks like it'll go the same way as Reading and Leeds in the long-term. A real shame.

 

[CaledonianGonzo]

People need to make up their minds as to whether edginess is a good thing or a bad thing.

[Fuss]

1 minute ago, stuie said:

I read this and it sounds like a different festival to the one I was at! Knives, fights and threats? 

Didn't see anything like that at all. 

I'm actually really glad to hear that.

It's kinda why I posted, I want to know that I just majorly unlucky this year!

Thinking about my last experience is hugely off putting and reading around the forum there's quite a few mentions of similar. But I love Glasto. The idea of just giving up on it is really sad!

[Fuss]

3 minutes ago, leath02 said:

lol knives and fights, you sure?

 

Yeah, there were quite a few fights on the long raised walkway.

Not sure laughing at people for being afraid to go back somewhere they love is helpful though?

[leath02]

2 minutes ago, Fuss said:

Yeah, there were quite a few fights on the long raised walkway.

Not sure laughing at people for being afraid to go back somewhere they love is helpful though?

Along the old rail tracks you mean?

Apologies my 'lol' was more in disbelief rather than directed at you, it's just not something I've ever experienced or thought at all close to happening whilst on site 

[Fuss]

2 minutes ago, leath02 said:

Along the old rail tracks you mean?

Apologies my 'lol' was more in disbelief rather than directed at you, it's just not something I've ever experienced or thought at all close to happening whilst on site 

I do.

Overreaction on my part there sorry.

I imagine there's quite a few people in my shoes that had bad experiences this year but wouldn't join a forum to post about them, they'll just give up on Glastonbury.

I actually feel a bit weird and clammy thinking about going again! So at least this has helped me sort my thoughts and decide against it at the very least.

I still regularly go to Roskilde, Slamdunk and a bunch of smaller festivals (so I add some positivity Slamdunk has become the  friendliest and most chilled festival ever, although it's more of a gig than a festival.)

[MEGATRONICMEATWAGON]

11 minutes ago, Fuss said:

Yeah, there were quite a few fights on the long raised walkway.

Not sure laughing at people for being afraid to go back somewhere they love is helpful though?

I mean this thread was opened on June 25 and quite a few people have expressed their issues with overcrowding and fears of crushing etc, but of all the posters who have expressed a quasi-negative viewpoint, no one else has mentioned fights, knives, or anything of the sort.

I'm not saying it's a tall tale, but, if such negativity was open after 8pm every day, surely there would have been other posters mentioning it.

Who had these knives?

[jannybruck]

I find this whole "well I didn't see it happen so.. hmm!" thing the board slips into very easily when on topics like this very unfortunate and it's happened multiple times through this thread in particular. I get that people are emotionally attached to the festival and don't want to see it in a negative light, but also it's an extremely large site and everyone sees and feels different things through the weekend.

It's fucking awful that people don't want to go anymore because the vibe has changed, and that should be the stuff that's discussed rather than questioning the validity of people's experiences.

[CaledonianGonzo]

I did actually break up a fight this year in the Macca Pit (tale as old as time - someone absolutely spangled keeping accidentally bumping into someone with Angry Wee Man syndrome) - but having seen random fights now and again over the years it says sweet FA about G22 being any better or worse than previous years.

[stuie]

5 minutes ago, jannybruck said:

I find this whole "well I didn't see it happen so.. hmm!" thing the board slips into very easily when on topics like this very unfortunate and it's happened multiple times through this thread in particular. I get that people are emotionally attached to the festival and don't want to see it in a negative light, but also it's an extremely large site and everyone sees and feels different things through the weekend.

It's fucking awful that people don't want to go anymore because the vibe has changed, and that should be the stuff that's discussed rather than questioning the validity of people's experiences.

I didn't say it didn't happen.  But I am shocked to hear of knives and fights - as it's the first time I've heard of such things and it's 4 months since the festival. 

[Skip997]

5 minutes ago, jannybruck said:

I find this whole "well I didn't see it happen so.. hmm!" thing the board slips into very easily when on topics like this very unfortunate and it's happened multiple times through this thread in particular. I get that people are emotionally attached to the festival and don't want to see it in a negative light, but also it's an extremely large site and everyone sees and feels different things through the weekend.

It's fucking awful that people don't want to go anymore because the vibe has changed, and that should be the stuff that's discussed rather than questioning the validity of people's experiences.

So we have around 250,000 people on site, which is the population of a large town/small city. Unlike a town city the majority are out and about most of the day and into the early hours, presumably most of them are drunk/on drugs. It would be absolutely amazing if there were no fights. Having said that it's incredible how little trouble there is.

Re "the vibe", it was definitely off this year. If people don't want to take this from me, then maybe they'll accept it when I say that several of my old crew mates and one of their daughters (14 year old, been going all her life) said the same.

[BBC7BBCHEAVEN]

3 minutes ago, Skip997 said:

 

Re "the vibe", it was definitely off this year. If people don't want to take this from me, then maybe they'll accept it when I say that several of my old crew mates and one of their daughters (14 year old, been going all her life) said the same.

I don't see how anyone can argue against this. It's the first year I didn't leave feeling fantastic and actually thought I wouldn't recommend Glasto in the way I always have.

Surely forum vets can weigh in, has there ever been such massive levels of complaints / discussion on here after the festival? And that's only the tiny section that use this forum, nevermind Facebook/ Twitter complaints