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Sunday, 30 June, 2002, 13:03 GMT 14:03 UK
Glastonbury future 'safe'
The capacity could be increased, Mr Eavis said
The future of the Glastonbury Festival is safe after security measures and a publicity campaign kept gatecrashers out of this year's event, organiser Michael Eavis has said.
Future festivals would be "more gentle" to follow the mood of this year's event, which would be remembered as "the mellow one," according to the 66-year-old farmer who has been hosting the event on his land since 1970. Organisers had avoided booking heavy rock bands to improve safety by reducing "crowd-surfing" and "mosh-pits", where fans jump around violently. "I'm sure the festival is secure now," Mr Eavis said on the 2002 event's final day, Sunday.
Next year's capacity could be increased to let an extra 20,000 people in, on top of the 100,000 who bought tickets this year. Mr Eavis said he had feared that the last event, in 2000, would be the last one after police estimated that up to 100,000 gatecrashers got in.
"So we built the fence and the campaign was really taken on board by everyone." Safer event Avon and Somerset Police have hailed the 2002 festival as a safer event, with 516 crimes reported by 0800 BST on Sunday - down 54% on the same time in 2000. The arrests included three festival security guards, who were charged with robbery and were appearing before Bath magistrates on Sunday following an incident in the early hours of Saturday morning. Mr Eavis said 400-500 ticketless fans had tried to find ways into the 800 acre site during the weekend - but that the vast majority were turned away. Police in Devon believe some of those made their way to an illegal party at Smeatharpe airfield, near Honiton, where 700 people gathered on Saturday night.
"They brought a refreshing medieval sort of atmosphere to part of the site," he said. "This was the sort of thing we used to do everywhere in the early days. The same creative fun that the travellers brought we hope we can do again." The money spent on improved security was a "good investment", Mr Eavis said, and added that he had no plans to retire. He added: "It's a life's work. It's better than working down the mines, isn't it?" Final day Festival-goers were enjoying the final day of music on Sunday, with stars including Rod Stewart, Roger Waters, Air and Groove Armada performing.
The cancellation of an appearance by Welsh band Super Furry Animals opened up the slot in the programme, organisers said. Australian Daniel Robinson, 23, from Melbourne, called the festival "absolutely sensational". "I've had the greatest time, I haven't thought about anything outside the fence," he told BBC News Online. "A lot of people at home know about the festival and they are all really jealous." Chris Le May, 32, from London, added: "It is a lot quieter this year, we came two years ago and it was absolutely manic.
A mass exodus was expected on roads and railways on Monday, with fans advised to avoid leaving during the peak time of 0900-1500 BST. The proceeds from the festival mean that charities, including Oxfam, WaterAid and Greenpeace, will share £750,000 and Mr Eavis said he hoped future years would see that sum rise to £1 million. |
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30 Jun 02 | England
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