Galtres Festival at Rawcliffe would be great (From York Press)

Thank for the elegant sub-editing YEP!

Probably the most important point of my letter was excised -

"Sound is always going to be an issue, but local authority regulations are very strict and with a combination of planning, design and constant remote monitoring sound, levels will be kept within agreed levels at all times.
Licensing officers, the Safety advisory group and all of the other bodies involved in a project like this rightly set very high hurdles for organisers of events of this scale. I’d like to ask the people who are so worried about the festival arriving in ‘their back yard’ to trust the expertise of these people and the goodwill and best intentions of the organisers to bring to York a brilliant event what is, in the words of the Guardian “achieved by a collective vision, detailed planning and organisation and nigh on perfect execution.”

dgh1955 wrote:
Thank for the elegant sub-editing YEP!

Probably the most important point of my letter was excised -

"Sound is always going to be an issue, but local authority regulations are very strict and with a combination of planning, design and constant remote monitoring sound, levels will be kept within agreed levels at all times.
Licensing officers, the Safety advisory group and all of the other bodies involved in a project like this rightly set very high hurdles for organisers of events of this scale. I’d like to ask the people who are so worried about the festival arriving in ‘their back yard’ to trust the expertise of these people and the goodwill and best intentions of the organisers to bring to York a brilliant event what is, in the words of the Guardian “achieved by a collective vision, detailed planning and organisation and nigh on perfect execution.”

Yeah well we trusted kaboom and look at the mess they left, honestly go have a look because its still in the same mess it was. York council will be seeing pound signs that is all if this goes ahead I take it your an organizer or stand to gain some sort of cash fix from this.

To those people you are worried about "drunken hooligans", my family and I have been to several festivals, including the Leeds Festival. I live near the city centre and often encounter the drunken revelry late in the evening. I know which situation makes me feel more uncomfotable. Good luck to Galtres and to the organisers. I think it is great in a time when so many are worried about losing their jobs and homes etc, people are trying to arrange a weekend where people can come together and have a good time in a safe and happy environment.

Alfie

I am a supporter but certainly not in it for a 'cash fix' of any sort!

In my experience (and I've had quite a lot) the council will make the cost of ground re-instatement a contractual obligation of the production company of an event of this scale - and temporary trackway will have to be laid in advance of the event to protect the site from the kind of vehicle damage that it suffered in November.

All of this sort of stuff can be budgeted and allowed for - and that is exactly what the licensing process is for.

From my experience, environmental concerns are taken very seriously by the Galtres Festival organisers.

Whichever site is used for the 2013 event, I'm confident it will be left in a clean state, and the benefits to peoples' lives will outweigh any difficulties or problems experienced.

Well said. I have performed at and attended festivals all over the country for several years, and the Galtres festival has to be among the very best organised of them all. The organisers are absolutely on the ball re: noise levels, and to compare this well established event with Kaboom is disingenuous. As a Rawcliffe resident and local business owner, I would be delighted to have such a prestigious event in our area.

I'm not an organiser or in it for a "cash fix," but I do intend to volunteer for Galtres 2013. That's the kind of friendly, inclusive, responsible, family festival that it is: people want to muck in and help out.

This isn't some commercial festival where safety and responsibility are an afterthought. This is Galtres. Come and join in!

Oh here we go again, the very same people who complain that nothing ever happens in York , that everything is aimed at the tourists not for local families…Well the Galtres Festival is definitely for families and could very well be happening right here on the outskirts of York.
I have been involved with the festival for three years and I am very proud of the way that our family entertainment ‘Village’ grows each year. We have a regular crew of core performers who tell stories, put on craft activities, sing and generally make sure that everybody has a great time there is plenty to see and do EVERYTHING in the Village is available at no additional charge.
This year we have Bhangra Pirates Adventure Wee Folk and their Yo Ho Ho Show, Pirate School, Walk the Plank competition Best dressed Pirate Scarecrow (win a family dinner on us) Dig for treasure on our desert island. A range of excellent storytellers including everyone’s favourite (usually a Viking …but sometimes a pirate) Adrian Spendlow & Lara McClure the wonderful ‘lady’ pirate. Who need Johnny Depp when actor Richard Kay the worst, black hearted, peg legged, cutlass wielding, pirate to sail the seven seas will be there to entertain us.
Have you guessed the theme yet? There will be jugglers and crafts, the opportunity to dress up and make a film, bouncy castles, a pirate’s banquet and all manner of fun. We are also very proud to have Chilli bon bon as a part of our core performers. This year they will host the best karaoke and dace tent ever, they will make you sing like nobody’s listening and dance like you’re a dad at a wedding. Chilli bon bon are a community theatre group made up of adults with learning disabilities and when they say ‘we will rock you’ they mean it.
Oh just stop complaining, catch the bus and come and join the fun

I appreciate that festivals are not everyone's cup of tea, particularly if it may land on your doorstep ( well, not quite ! ) but there are festivals and festivals. The likes of Leeds/Reading, T in the Park, Download et al will continue to attract the late teen and such for a booze fuelled kamikaze weekend where anything goes. Of late there has been an increase in the number of smaller, family based event, which seek to engage just that, families, by ensuring that childrens entertainment is a feature, that all styles of music are catered for, where the arts and crafts are represented, where a wide cross section of local beers and foods are on offer and there is a central desire not to impact, beyond reason, on the immediate environment. These festivals in Yorkshire are represented by the likes of Deershed, Cornucopia, Beacons and Willowman. The Galtres Festival has been recognised as a shining example of what one of these events should be and rightly so. It's very easy to oppose without actually having seen and experienced what it entails. Whether it's Rawcliffe, Folly Wood or some other venue, why not give it a chance to prove that it is a responsible, well run, well organised festival in 2013.