Isle of Wight Festival organisers defend folding chair ban

[Black Rose]

Organisers of the Isle of Wight Festival have defended their decision not to allow fold away chairs to be brought on to the site.

 

About 100 visitors were told they had to leave their seats at the entrance to the site at Seaclose Park in Newport when they arrived on Friday.

 

The organisers said it was because of health and safety concerns and to improve the "audience experience".

 

Some visitors said they were furious at the new rules brought in this year.

 

Among them, Clive Woodford from East Cowes who said he needed to sit for medical reasons and there was no prior notification of chairs being banned.

 

He said: "I'm absolutely furious. It's 175 quid down the drain. [The organisers] need to treat the public with respect."

 

Tim McWilliams, Solo security co-ordinator, said: "Out of concern for the public, and to give the fans the best opportunity to view the stage, we have found that it works best to have minimum obstructions in the arena and we find by not allowing chairs it enhances the audience experience."

 

Other festival goers said they had brought chairs in previous years without a problem and chairs were being sold within the festival site. (If that is true, than it seems like a way to make more money)

 

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So banning folding chairs, a good thing or a bad thing?

 

(In my experience, don't ban chairs, but make them go into a special area of the stages, as I lost count how many times i almost tripped up on a chair during Muse last glastonbury)

[EmmaLouiseSmyth]

My dad suggested this morning that our next holiday might be to the Isle of Wight and to this festival. Which is quite a cool suggestion for a family holiday.

 

I better not tell him about this, it could affect his decision. He is a fan of the folder chair.