How Reading Festival could go ahead as council hopes for return

After a councillor downplayed claims the festival would return this summer on Friday (February 26), Reading Borough Council (RBC) has struck a more optimistic note in a new statement on the event, saying it would “love it to return”.

This follows the announcement from Festival Republic last Wednesday (February 24) that it expects the event to go ahead this August, with the event selling out just days later.

READ MORE: ‘Nothing has been agreed by the council’ – Reading Festival confirmation downplayed

A council spokesman said: “Reading Festival is a major highlight of the cultural calendar in Reading and, like everyone, the council would love to see it return this summer.

“The council notes Festival Republic’s announcement last week that it would like to push ahead with this year’s festival, but the government has been clear its roadmap is dependent on many aspects.

(190862) Tony Gillman, Craig Hunter and Rachel Hunter from Reading on day two of Reading Festival. Picture by Emma Sheppard.

(190861) Headliners Foo Fighters perform on the main stage on day three of Reading Festival. Picture by Emma Sheppard.

“For large events like the festival, the government plans to pilot testing approaches from April.

“The outcome of that work, alongside event information submitted by Festival Republic and national guidance, will help the council and public health colleagues make a decision on whether the festival can go ahead safely this summer.”

Councillor Graeme Hoskin, RBCs lead member for Health and Wellbeing, said last week “nothing has been agreed by the council” on whether the event can go ahead and the decison would be a “major item” for the council’s licensing department and national bodies to consider.

According to plans announced on Monday, February 22 the government hopes to lift all remaining restrictions on social contact by June 21 at the earliest.

READ MORE: Reading and Leeds Festival tickets sold out

As part of the roadmap, an events research programme in set to launch in April, with trial events at nightclubs, stadiums, theatres, concerts and other events venues to take place with volunteers.

Results from the pilots starting in April would be reported back to parliament before June 21.

(190861) A Day to Remember perform on the main stage on day three of Reading Festival. Picture by Emma Sheppard.

(190861) A Day to Remember perform on the main stage on day three of Reading Festival. Picture by Emma Sheppard.

But MPs Theresa Villiers and Ben Bradley, who sit on the All-Party Parliamentary Groups for Events and Sports, have expressed concern planned pilot events will start too late and urged Culture, Media and Sport minister Oliver Dowden to ensure studies from previous event pilots in the autumn are taken into account.

In a letter to Mr Dowden, they said: “The new set of pilots need to focus on a risk-based solution that is dependent on the situation, venue, audience numbers, and type of event.

“Any new requirements in relation to proof of a test or a vaccination need to be proportionate, operationally feasible, affordable and consistent with protection of individual privacy.”