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Last year's Glade Festival
Glade Festival 'unpoliceable'
Sat, April 14 2007

Police tell licensing sub committee how drug dealing is rife at dance music festival
 

DRUG taking and drug dealing at the Glade festival has rendered it “unpoliceable,” West Berkshire Council’s licensing sub committee heard yesterday (Fri).
The meeting, to determine whether the festival will take place this summer, was told Thames Valley Police vehemently opposed it.
The council’s environmental health department was also critical on the grounds of noise and public safety.
Earlier, festival organisers laid out their stall in a four-hour meeting at Newbury Town Hall, promising new, ‘sound-cancelling’ technology would help prevent last year’s noise problems.
The application to hold the three-day, electronic music and arts festival at the Wasing Estate was unopposed by Aldermaston and Brimpton parish councils, which stand to benefit from substantial, charitable donations from the proceeds.
But Inspector John Relf told the committee the event was “unpoliceable” and claimed that to enforce drugs laws at the event “would have an enormous impact on all of the force if it goes ahead”.
The committee heard lawyer Steven Morley, representing the force, who said: “These were experienced officers who wrote these reports. They have policed Reading and WOMAD festivals and never encountered anything lik

 

The social, cultural and musical benefits should not be underestimated

Local resident, Sue Poole
e the levels of drugs at this event.
“The reason, the police suspect, is the type of music - its the scene. It’s described as ‘rave music.’”
Officers reported drugs were smoked “openly” and that class A drug dealing was rife.
Insp Relf added: “Crime and disorder are huge issues at this event. What the officers saw was a disgrace. People were openly smoking drugs in front of them.”
The committee also heard from Wasing Estate owner Joshua Dugdale who spoke of his pride at hosting an internationally renowned, dance music festival.
Organiser Luke Piper outlined the entertainment on offer including theatre, public speaking and workshops.
Local supporters, meanwhile, pleaded for the application to be granted.
Sue Poole, who lives nearby, said: “It offers young people locally a chance to hear and be inspired by several artistic genres.
“The social, cultural and musical benefits should not be underestimated.”
Student Rachel Lawrence said: “It is by far the safest and best run festival I have attended. Don’t let them destroy something so fantastic for our community - many of us are voters of today and tomorrow. I would be devastated to lose it.”
The committee deferred their decision until next week.

 
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