Sidmouth 2005 - CAMPING

Subject: Sidmouth 2005 - CAMPING
From: fiddler
Date: 09 Feb 05 - 07:49 PM

It is now definite that the first field of the old Sidmouth Campsite will be running during Sidmouth folk week this year.

We shall need a host of Stewards and a host of campers, if you have not booked a site (or have a tentative booking only) you can book with the site.

In the First instance send me an email and I can tell you more.

With the lack of season tickets and events which you have to pay for we are discussing a Stewards package.

Please email me [e-mail]

And put
Sidmouth CampSite - Stewards - for stewarding info and
Sidmouth CampSite - Camping - for camping info

in to the subject field.

Alan White (Manager of the site well before I was) is in overall command, I fill one of the lower ranks!

Hope lots of you will come - its lonely with just Alan and me even though we do form a good drinking duo!

Andy

Subject: RE: Sidmouth 2005 - CAMPING
From: Morticia
Date: 10 Feb 05 - 03:24 AM

what's it going to cost, Andy?

Subject: RE: Sidmouth 2005 - CAMPING
From: fiddler
Date: 10 Feb 05 - 09:50 AM

Morti,

I don't have full cost yet, I shall be meeting with Alan at the Anchor in a couple of weeks time! I wonder why?

Andy

Subject: RE: Sidmouth 2005 - CAMPING
From: Dave Earl
Date: 10 Feb 05 - 10:34 AM

Terri (Morticia)

I was looking at the www.sidmouthfolkweek.org.uk site earlier and there is a note of cost in there if you follow enough of the links.

Dave

Subject: RE: Sidmouth 2005 - CAMPING
From: EagleWing
Date: 10 Feb 05 - 11:02 AM

It's beginning to sound exciting. I'm seriously thinking of going this year.

Frank L

Subject: RE: Sidmouth 2005 - CAMPING
From: GUEST,guest, alan
Date: 10 Feb 05 - 11:56 AM

Nice to hear the usual field is going to be available.
Are there any plans for stagecoach bus services from the campsite? I thought they did an excellent job last year, both with the festival circular and the specials to and from exeter.
Who are alpha coaches, on the festival website as running to/from the Salcombe LNE, do they have the capacity to move large numbers?

alan

Subject: RE: Sidmouth 2005 - CAMPING
From: GUEST,Alan
Date: 10 Feb 05 - 12:45 PM

Unlikely to be any circular bus service this year unless numbers warrant it. Signs at present are suggest there won't be enough demand.

Subject: RE: Sidmouth 2005 - CAMPING
From: GUEST,Bez
Date: 10 Feb 05 - 04:15 PM

Have EDDC licensed the campsite yet?

Will there be proper security, first aid, showers?

How will volunteer stewards get the same privileges as last year when there are so few concerts this year and no arena shows to attend?

Subject: RE: Sidmouth 2005 - CAMPING
From: GUEST
Date: 10 Feb 05 - 04:21 PM

I think the answear is "NO".So do not volunteer!!!!!!!!!!!.

Subject: RE: Sidmouth 2005 - CAMPING
From: Richard Bridge
Date: 10 Feb 05 - 05:02 PM

How far to walk? I am thinking...

Subject: RE: Sidmouth 2005 - CAMPING
From: GUEST,Guest Mike
Date: 10 Feb 05 - 05:31 PM

Have already volunteered as campsite steward, whether offering concessions or not, together with wife, daughters and new grandson.
After 26years on the site would not want to miss out this year

Mike

Subject: RE: Sidmouth 2005 - CAMPING
From: GUEST
Date: 10 Feb 05 - 07:58 PM

"Have EDDC licensed the campsite yet?"

Feck off and get a new record!

Subject: RE: Sidmouth 2005 - CAMPING
From: GUEST,Eddie
Date: 11 Feb 05 - 12:39 AM

No need for rudeness GUEST.

It's a fair question that someone's asked.

I wouldn't want to turn-up in my camper to find a campsite shut by the council.

Subject: RE: Sidmouth 2005 - CAMPING
From: Liz the Squeak
Date: 11 Feb 05 - 03:04 AM

One would presume that if the campsite is open again this year, then the relevant licences have been aplied for and the usual facilities provided. But if the field is owned by a private owner (i.e., not the council), then surely it's the owners' responsibility.

As for the question of stewards perks.... well if the only reason you 'volunteer' is to get yourself a cheap/free ticket, then you need to go back and read the dictionary again. Most festivals could not happen if there weren't an army of volunteers to help. If there are not enough stewards for a site, then the organisers will have to charge for a security team 24/7... imagine what that would do for local relationships and the prices!

I've never stewarded Sidmouth, but I do steward other festivals and enjoy the work I do (standing in a field telling people where to go), there are others who do so much more and enjoy their work too. There are those who volunteer, turn up to get their tickets and are never seen on duty. Those volunteers get refused the following year if they apply. But for every one of those, there are two or more who do shifts over and above their timetabled rotas, do the crap jobs no-one else wants to do and some who never manage to see a single concert or arena show because they are too busy making sure everyone else there has a safe and happy time.

LTS

Subject: RE: Sidmouth 2005 - CAMPING
From: GUEST,Towersey Steward
Date: 11 Feb 05 - 03:44 AM

Well said Liz. I remember one year at Towersey when it poured with rain and half the stewards 'vanished' meaning the rest of us had to work twice as hard.

I've stewarded at Sidmouth many times but won't be attending this year, not because I'm against stewarding but because the programme of events (or lack of them) just doesn't look very interesting to me.

I don't mind standing for hours on a campsite or concert venue when there's lots of people to boss around but as none of my friends are going to Sidmouth this year I don't really want to stand around all on my own.

I'm sure we'll meet at other fstival though Liz.

Subject: RE: Sidmouth 2005 - CAMPING
From: Liz the Squeak
Date: 11 Feb 05 - 04:17 AM

Just the ONE year when it poured with rain at Towersey?! : )

LTS

Subject: RE: Sidmouth 2005 - CAMPING
From: fiddler
Date: 11 Feb 05 - 04:47 AM

I think the modern trend where every dot comma needs to be revealed to everyone is not neccassarily a good one.

Appropriate action has and is being taken on all aspects of safety and security and organisation the intent to run a secure safe camp site has not changed!

Obviously this will not be the same as the last few years, there is no idea of numbers yet. In it's former life the organisers could give predictions, currently this luxury does not exist.

There will be at least one food outlet (with appropriate hygene certificates and staff) - it may be possible to include some benefits from this in a Stewards package!!!

New innovative ideas, Liz is absolutely right about Stewards btw!

Andy

Subject: RE: Sidmouth 2005 - CAMPING
From: el_punkoid_nouveau
Date: 11 Feb 05 - 08:49 AM

Ahhhhh - the resurection (to a degree) of CCC beckons...

Silly hats at the ready!

epn

Subject: RE: Sidmouth 2005 - CAMPING
From: MBSLynne
Date: 11 Feb 05 - 10:23 AM

Yep...we're volunteering too. Setting up the site the first week was always fun and will still be the same.

Subject: RE: Sidmouth 2005 - CAMPING
From: GUEST,steve_harris
Date: 11 Feb 05 - 10:58 AM

"No need for rudeness GUEST.

It's a fair question that someone's asked."

(I don't know why I showed up as GUEST)

No it's not a "fair question", it's a weasel way of saying "I bet you haven't/won't/can't get the paperwork sorted". And we've seen it far to often on this subject.

Let me ask you a fair question, Eddie: When did you stop beating your wife/girlfiend/dog/leopard? :)

Subject: RE: Sidmouth 2005 - CAMPING
From: GUEST,Eddie
Date: 11 Feb 05 - 11:51 AM

To Steve Harris, I've never beaten my wife and I don't believe in cruelty to dumb animals so I'll try not to be rude to you.

What I can't understand is why people who are supposed to be supporting Sidmouth 2005 keep on arguing with those who clearly think Sidmouth 2005 is going to be a complete disaster compared to Sidmouth in the past.

This constant sniping and name-calling is just turning more and more people off the idea of giving Sidmouth 2005 a chance.

The attitude of Sidmouth 2005's opponents I understand.

The postings by "friends" (sic) of Sidmouth 2005 are bizarre.

Subject: RE: Sidmouth 2005 - CAMPING
From: Blowzabella
Date: 11 Feb 05 - 04:19 PM

Why anyone wants to be 'opposed' to an event, is what I don't understand - unless it's being held in your neighbour's garden, perhaps.

You might say, you don't fancy the line-up, you might say, you aren't going to it, you might say -it's too far or you aren't going because you can't get a free or subsidised ticket by doing some stewarding - or any other number of reasons - but why anyone wants to oppose it is beyond me and why this level of nastiness / vitriol / snidey sarcasm has been generated by people trying to organise a folk festival in a town which has hosted a festival organised by several different bodies over the years, is beyond me.

Would it be the same if someboy else took over organising one of the many, many other festivals? What is it about Sidmouth that has generated such negative spleen?

Subject: RE: Sidmouth 2005 - CAMPING
From: GUEST,Richard Davies
Date: 11 Feb 05 - 05:36 PM

Blowzabella poses a very good question.

Why oppose any festival?

I guess in the case of Sidmouth it's because so many people are upset at the loss (as they see it) of the U.K.'s premier folk festival and the departure of Steve Heap and Mrs. Casey Music.

It is sad though that when some people are trying to keep a small event going in Sidmouth they suffer continued attacks on this board and others.

If you don't think Sidmouth will be as good as in the past then go elsewhere. That's what I'm doing. I'm going to the new Eastleigh Festival in early August this year and maybe a bit of Broadstairs as well.

But I won't criticise those heading back to Sidmouth.

I hope they still have a great time and I'm sure they will.

Subject: RE: Sidmouth 2005 - CAMPING
From: Bonecruncher
Date: 12 Feb 05 - 12:16 AM

Nice comments about stewarding, Liz.
MBSLynne, Breton Cap, Guest with new grandson and others, I am looking forward to seeing you on the camp site/Middls Bars/The Dove or whereever.
I think it will be very new and exciting.
Colyn.

Subject: RE: Sidmouth 2005 - CAMPING
From: MBSLynne
Date: 12 Feb 05 - 05:38 AM

I agree wholeheartedly with Blowzabella......if you don't like the idea of it, then don't go. Why try to spoil it for others as well? The amount of very negative comments (mostly from "Guests") tends to indicate to me that someone is actually trying to undermine the whole thing for some strange reason of their own.

So...if you don't like it, don't go, but leave those of us who do want to go and enjoy ourselves our right to do so without being hassled.

Bonecruncher...I look forward to seeing you too...do I know you already?

Love Lynne

Subject: RE: Sidmouth 2005 - CAMPING
From: EagleWing
Date: 12 Feb 05 - 05:47 AM

No it's not a "fair question", it's a weasel way of saying "I bet you haven't/won't/can't get the paperwork sorted".

But it is a perfectly fair question! I, for one, would be a bit hacked off after travelling from the E. Midlands, to find that the campsite I had booked did not exist. Since there have been allegations from Sydmouth resident(s) that the council will not licence various sites, it is important for us to know that the allegations were either false or out of date.

Personally I can check these things with Lynne (who knows about these things) but not everyone knows a member of the committee.

Frank L.

Subject: RE: Sidmouth 2005 - CAMPING
From: George Papavgeris
Date: 12 Feb 05 - 06:41 AM

Frank,

I would bet my house that the other 60 or so festivals that give so much pleasure to thousands don't get asked the "fair question" of "have you got your house in order". We simply trust them to do so, we book our tickets, and if something is not to our expectation we can then complain or make our feelings public. But meanwhile we let them get on with organising their festivals.

The sole exception to this is Sidmouth 2005. Why? (Now, THAT's a fair question - you may care to answer it). The "allegations" you refer to are just that. If you feel the need to reassure yourself you can ask the question of the organisers, not in a public forum; because you'd want an authoritative answer, not the variety of opinions and bits of info you get from a public forum. That's what one would do for any festival. Yet nobody is asking the question for the other festivals, just for Sidmouth.

Hardly surprising therefore that even asking such a question publicly - fair or not - is seen to indicate an unnecessarily aggressive attitude towards the Sidmouth 2005 organisers, and only helps to cast aspersions regarding their ability to organise the festival.

I suggest everyone does as Blowzabella suggetss, and leave the organising to organisers. What was that about too many cooks and the broth?

Subject: RE: Sidmouth 2005 - CAMPING
From: fiddler
Date: 12 Feb 05 - 07:53 AM

But don't forget with Stewarding - Many hands make light work and I have have very few replies!

Andy

Subject: RE: Sidmouth 2005 - CAMPING
From: GUEST,Andy in Hull
Date: 12 Feb 05 - 08:22 AM

El Greko is right. We leave organising to organisers. We only notice the organisation when it goes wrong.

However...

One reason why Steve Heap withdrew from Sidmouth was his difficulty and frustration at having to meet ever-increasing demands from the local authority relating to insurance, health & safety, site licensing issues etc.

It is surely fair therefore to ask whether the new organisers are able to meet the same licence conditions that caused the supremely-professional Mr. Heap and his staff such problems?

Personally I hope they can but I recognise people have a right to ask the questions until someone is able to stand-up, wave the approved licence from the council, and declare "Peace in our time".

I want to camp at Sidmouth and enjoy the festival but until I know the camp site and the festival sites are all fully licensed I am not going to shell out good money for tickets.

Subject: RE: Sidmouth 2005 - CAMPING
From: GUEST,MBSLynne
Date: 12 Feb 05 - 12:26 PM

Well if you are doubtful about camping on the festival camp site, there is still a perfectly good campsite with all the requisite permissions etc, over at Salcombe Regis, so if you are worried, go over there.

Subject: RE: Sidmouth 2005 - CAMPING
From: GUEST,Andy in Hull
Date: 12 Feb 05 - 02:21 PM

Thanks Lynne but it's an awful long walk from Salcombe to the Ham and back especially if there's no festival bus service this year.

Also I still haven't heard that the proposed concert site at the Ham is licensed.

Much as I'd like to just stay in the Anchor I don't think the landlord will let me camp under the tables will he?

Subject: RE: Sidmouth 2005 - CAMPING
From: MBSLynne
Date: 12 Feb 05 - 03:49 PM

Alpha coaches will be running a service from Salcombe as they always do, and it's actaully a very nice walk down from the campsite to the town (though admitedly not so nice going back again, a trip I made at four o'clock in the morning last year!) It's actually little further, if any, from Part Thorn campsite than it is from the old main site.

Love Lynne

Subject: RE: Sidmouth 2005 - CAMPING
From: GUEST,Guest
Date: 12 Feb 05 - 11:14 PM

I thought Sidmouth had been cancelled this year.

Subject: RE: Sidmouth 2005 - CAMPING
From: Manitas_at_home
Date: 13 Feb 05 - 02:00 AM

No, it's still there. A few years ago the beach was washed away in a storm butb but that's about it.

Subject: RE: Sidmouth 2005 - CAMPING
From: GUEST,Oz
Date: 13 Feb 05 - 04:26 PM

"A few years ago the beach was washed away in a storm"

That's the camp-site gone then!

Subject: RE: Sidmouth 2005 - CAMPING
From: steve_harris
Date: 13 Feb 05 - 08:18 PM

"Much as I'd like to just stay in the Anchor "

Have you checked if it's licensed? Yes, I know it may have been last year but you really ought to check! Imagine turning up there and discovering they couldn't sell you a drink!

And you mention problems with the local authority. Might they decide to close the road to Salcombe Regis in a dastardly attempt to sabotage the Festival? Can you check that for us too?

Subject: RE: Sidmouth 2005 - CAMPING
From: steve_harris
Date: 13 Feb 05 - 08:19 PM

"Alpha coaches will be running a service from Salcombe as they always do,"

Altogether now: "Have they got a license!" :-))

Subject: RE: Sidmouth 2005 - CAMPING
From: GUEST,Andy in Hull
Date: 13 Feb 05 - 08:55 PM

(smiling)

steve - do I detect a slight note of sarcasm in your postings?

Subject: RE: Sidmouth 2005 - CAMPING
From: Dave Earl
Date: 14 Feb 05 - 02:03 AM

Mr Harris sir,

Do give it a rest.

If the Anchor was without a licence it would not be serving the residents of Sidmouth.

And don't they have Karaoke nights for the people in Sidders who enjoy such things.

If the pub is sans licence(s) it will be operating non-legally outside the festival so that is more of a problem to the local community during the rest of the year.You should be directing your scepticism to the Local Authorities rather than here.


And as it happens we (MBS) do check with the landlord before we attend for our reunion (we have local representation and support) and the festival if for no other reason than to ensure that he knows what to expect.

Dave Earl

Subject: RE: Sidmouth 2005 - CAMPING
From: fiddler
Date: 14 Feb 05 - 03:11 AM

Life - Anoraks - sheer stupidity at times - none of us intend to put our butts so firmly on the line to be uninsured and un licenced. A stay in teh licences premises sponsored by HMG with en suite lavatories but communal in all other ways is not and never will be at teh top of our agendas!

Andy

Subject: RE: Sidmouth 2005 - CAMPING
From: EagleWing
Date: 14 Feb 05 - 05:08 AM

Steve Harris' sarcastic sallies are most unhelpful. No one has cast doubt on the coach companies or pubs. Doubt has been cast upon whether the council has licenced certain venues.

Since Steve has made it clear that we are to take these things on trust and not make the sensible checks (just like those package holidays to Spanish hotels which haven't been built), I'm wondering whether to simply change my mind and not go to Sydmouth after all.

Some of us are still waiting for an authorative statement that the council has indeed issued the necessary licences. No one seems to be prepared to make that statement. Or have I missed that statement. Faith is fine - but it has limits.

Frank L.

Subject: RE: Sidmouth 2005 - CAMPING
From: GUEST
Date: 14 Feb 05 - 05:24 AM

Heavens above - if it was a couple of days before the event, I might understand the concern - but there are months to go yet.

What on earth is the desperate need to know now? And when you enquire, nearer the time, why not ask the people who might stand a chance of answering you, as has been suggested? Ie those organising the event. I'll bet many events (not just folk festivals) planned for later in the year have not had licenses issued yet. Again - the people organising this event have a clean copy book - let them get on with the mammoth job of organising the darn thing and not having to spend too much time, at this crucial stage, in answering logistical queries - you'll be wanting to check what sort of loo paper will be provided next!

Subject: RE: Sidmouth 2005 - CAMPING
From: MBSLynne
Date: 14 Feb 05 - 09:26 AM

Frank and Dave and others, I think the point that Steve Harris was trying to get across was....how often do we normally question the licencing of venues, campsites etc at other folk festivals? The only reason anyone is doing so about Sidmouth is because those trying to sabotage the continuation of the festival have put doubts into our heads. Personally I think you are all worrying way too much. Actually, I thought Steve's sarcastic postings were quite amusing.

Just give it a rest guys...either make up your mind to go, or make up your mind not to, or wait until closer to the time, but stop whittling on about it like a mob of old spinsters with nothing else to occupy their time. And as Guest says...if you are really concerned...enquire in the proper place, not on a public forum.

Love Lynne

Subject: RE: Sidmouth 2005 - CAMPING
From: EagleWing
Date: 14 Feb 05 - 09:45 AM

Well, Lynne and (yet another anonymous) GUEST.

There are quite a few festivals on this year. I have expressed an interest in Sydmouth. I will probably also be going to Cropredy with other members of my family. I need to plan ahead so I do need to have some idea of what is happening. It may be OK for some to leave their planning to a couple of days before the event but some of like to know what we are doing in advance. There would be no question in my mind were it not for statements purporting to come from those in the know including (apparently) a member of the council (and we only have Cllr's guess for it that he isn't genuine). Sarcasm is rarely as funny to the people it's aimed at as it is to others.

Surely someone really in the know could give us some sort of reply. You may get fed up with old spinsters like me whittling but not so fed up as this spinster gets when all he gets in reply to an honest question is sarcasm. Serious doubts need serious replies.

GUEST - I always, always take my own loo paper to festivals. Not because of any doubt about the organisors but some fellow-campers ....

Frank L.

Subject: RE: Sidmouth 2005 - CAMPING
From: Dave Earl
Date: 14 Feb 05 - 10:08 AM

Hi Lynne,

I am actually on your side in all this. It just seems to me that Mr Harris is one of those who are "doing down" Sidders.

I try to bite my tongue but, being a Scorpio, if I get annoyed everybody gets the sharp edge of the thing behind my teeth.

I want our festival to continue and succeed.

See you next weekend and we'll shake hands, have a hug and take a drink to the success of Sidmouth Folk Week.

Dave

Subject: RE: Sidmouth 2005 - CAMPING
From: MBSLynne
Date: 14 Feb 05 - 02:51 PM

For goodness sake guys...lighten up!! I don't know what it is about these Sidmouth threads, but they really seem to call out the worst in everyone this year! I should have known it was a mistake to post to one of them AT ALL. Everyone is so prickly and stroppy it doesn't matter what you say it'll get an irate answer. Right...that's my last posting.....just get on with it

Subject: RE: Sidmouth 2005 - CAMPING
From: GUEST,The Devonian
Date: 14 Feb 05 - 08:41 PM

Thank goodness someone has put Steve Harris in his place.

As for all the questions on licensing, Eagle Wing has a valid point (as do others).

The reason people keep asking about licensing is, I suspect, because one of the reasons Steve Heap gave for withdrawing from Sidmouth concerned the ever-increasing licensing demands from EDDC in recent years.

We are told by the promoters of Sidmouth 2005 that each event will have a different organiser.

That means each organiser will be responsible for their own licensing.

EDDC will expect £15 million Public Liability Insurance from each and every one of them plus a full Risk Assessment, Noise Management Plan, Health & Safety Plan, SIA Security etc. etc.

The cost of the above will run into thousands of pounds.

At present I believe NONE of the event organisers have produced any of this documentation and NONE of the outdoor sites or the proposed campsite have been licensed.

YES... there is still plenty of time to get the licences in place but until they are in place many people will continue to question whether this year's promoters, however well-meaning, are able to deliver on their promises.

Sorry it upsets some but these are valid questions to ask because no licences means no outdoor events.

Subject: RE: Sidmouth 2005 - CAMPING
From: John Routledge
Date: 14 Feb 05 - 09:12 PM

Other than the fact that the festival will be much smaller (and presumably the politicians happier) in 2005 how will these individual organisers be able to deal more sucessfully with the "authorities" than Steve Heap?

Families planning their summer holidays deserve re-assurance sooner rather than later.

Subject: RE: Sidmouth 2005 - CAMPING
From: Manitas_at_home
Date: 15 Feb 05 - 01:29 AM

"EDDC will expect £15 million Public Liability Insurance from each and every one of them plus a full Risk Assessment, Noise Management Plan, Health & Safety Plan, SIA Security etc. etc."

Have EDDC asked for this from organisers of other events in the town? Obviously, the Carnival Committee would have needed something like that but how about school dances, jumble sales and the like? Or does nothing else happen in Sidmouth?

Can the organisers of the individual events not take advantage of umbrella insurance policies such as those offered by EFDSS, the MU, the various Morris organisations etc where multiple events are covered by one policy covering all members? I'm sure they would have worked that one out before now.

Subject: RE: Sidmouth 2005 - CAMPING
From: fiddler
Date: 15 Feb 05 - 03:26 AM

Sorry guys, I put this thread out to attempt to interest folk in Stewarding at the camp site - which it is intended will be appropriately covered by licencing and insurance!

Instead it seems to have been hi jacked by - I'm not sure who!

There seem to be many folk taking intractible positions, both on a festival and a personal level, that they are right and they know (better) and also know much more about festival organisation than those attempting to run something in 2005.

I think I give up!

One of my loves of Folk music over the years has been the relaxed, friendly and easy going attitudes of those concerned - this does not imply that jobs were not and are not being done correctly, or that I would ever sanction such!

The threads on Sidmouth - including this one have shown that there are as many (or more) small minded biggots wielding their own particular brand of Anarchy in the folk world as in any other walk of life - I am, sadly, surprised!

My tirade is over I ask Joe - Close this thread please - it has served no purpose!

Sad and disillusioned

Andy