Where a reputable firm is briefed properly and acting professional, a Security presence is exceedingly useful at some festivals. It is unfortunate perhaps, but all the same, reality, that some who behave inappropriately and need to be told so, sometimes repeatedly. I am thinking, for insteance, of people trying to blag entrance to a festival without a ticket. Sometimes such incidents are most safely and/or effectively dealt with by a trained and licenced security guard and well as/instead of a volunteer steward. I speak as someone has experience in both roles. The trick for the security firm is to behave professionally and appropriately, and to have a low level but visble profile.

I'm sorry to hear that there were problems with Chippenham's late night sessions this year. I feel that drifting off to sleep with the sound of a really good session is one of the essential festival experiences, and I love it. My friends and I were camped about 100 yards away from the Pavillion, and whilst three of us weren't woken by any associated noise, one of us was. However, there was far more disturbance created by the people not directly linked with the session, doing what people do when drunk/tired/at festivals (namely, having heart-to-hearts with their mates and trying to scrounge fags off each other). Again, I supose that is part of the festival experience too, but a slightly less pleasant one.

Having a clear demarkation of quiet and noisiers areas of the campsite is a great idea and it seems to work well at other festivals.