News

Let Down At Leeds – And Not By The Music

• 1st Sep 2010

I'm still recovering from my 7th Reading/Leeds weekend. Once again I had a fantastic time camping, eating noodles and rocking out to some of the hottest bands on earth with my friends – but this year, I felt massively let down by the organisers.

It's common knowledge that Sunday night (particularly at the Leeds site) is chaotic and riddled with fire-hazards. This year, I sat in my campsite with six friends trying to protect our tents. We had no problem with all the fire-starting, but it became worrying when just meters from our camp, our neighbours started putting gas canisters and aerosols on their fire; one member of our camp was just sixteen and this was her first Reading/Leeds experience so she was understandably alarmed. Like I said, it happens every year, but I defend my right to stay on the campsite until Monday morning, having paid the same as these pyromaniacs, and I expect the festival staff's support – something we definitely did not get.

The fourth time the fire was extinguished, we asked the five volunteers present to keep an eye on it as we were all being affected fumes from burning plastic and explosions from aerosols. One said he was “just a volunteer” and could do nothing, wile his fellow volunteer suggested he follow his example and remove his jacket “so we can party”. The original volunteer asked if a nearby tent belonged to any of us. It didn't, but there was a girl inside and we told him that several times. Despite this, he proceeded to urinate on the tent before asking the youngest member of our camp if she was scared and if the gas canisters were “flying everywhere”. His patronising manner, the inactivity of the three female volunteers observing this spectacle, and the second male volunteer’s failure to fulfil his duty was unsettling and irritating, as they had already enjoyed the festival and were doing nothing in return for this privilege (while those of us who had paid upwards of £180 were exposed to gas explosions).

This group of volunteers disappeared and when the fire was relit, a Customer Support Officer and another volunteer returned and had to wait for a series of explosions before they could safely approach the fire to put it out. Once it was out, I went to ask if there was any way to lodge a complaint against how the volunteers had behaved. Upon being told there was nothing they could do, I explained that our youngest group member – who had by that time joined me – was just sixteen. The Customer Support Officer’s unhelpful response was: “Sixteen? I wouldn’t let my daughter come here.” I pointed out it was her first year and was unaware it would be like this. He advised her to go home, but at sixteen she can't drive and was waiting for her dad to collect her Monday morning (the earliest he could come). The rest of our group were driving back the next day, except for one who had booked a coach. We were not prepared to leave our friend travelling by coach and a frightened sixteen-year-old alone and set off home, and both cars were full so we had no option but to stay.

Volunteers receive a handsome reward and should be aware what will be expected of them in their role. I am deeply disappointed by their handling of the fire-safety hazards and our unease and urge festival organisers rectify this by ensuring all staff are willing to take on the difficult task of keeping campfires under control. It's sad to think I – and the six friends I was with – will be reluctant to return next year, but it's a long-established festival and I'm sure something could be done to improve fire-safety standards and to screen volunteers more thoroughly to ensure their capability. None of my friends came back from V or Glasto with complaints of rude staff or gas explosions!

And, to anyone thinking of volunteering: Don't bother unless you're willing to put in the work. If you get to enjoy the festival, you should make sure everyone else gets to, too.