Views on Isle of Wight Festival sought by council

I hasten to add that I am not against festivals but I wonder why residents (RATEPAYERS) have to forgo the use of Seaclose Park for many weeks to hold one. The skate park is used daily but has to be out of bounds prior and post festival for weeks The pitches take time to repair. Dog walkers etc have to go elsewhere. The childrens playground is out of action. The Council offices are closed to the public. Charity begins at home surely? Lets look after the needs of all Island residents.

On Thursday 21st June 2012 I spent 8 hours in my car driving my son to school at Whippingham and collecting him. I live the west side of Newport so hit the traffic each way. I left home at 3pm to collect my son from school at 5pm. I arrived after 7pm and did not know whether he was stood there in the rain by himself for all that time. I told the police that passed the queue I was in that I was trying to get to the school but sadly they couldn't help me. Newport is heavily congested on a normal day so putting an event to attract thousands of more cars in Newport isn't really the best idea to bring trade to the island. The school had to close on the Friday and Monday in spite of it being examination time. (They stayed opened for pupils taking their exams).

We were effected in the West Wight, it went quiet as no traffic could get past Wooton and Newport. I could have had a picnic on the center of the middle road at one point!

I am generally "for" the Festival. It would be nice, though, for EVERYONE to be given a chance to comment. I was one of those who lost a day's pay on the Friday as I couldn't get to work because the buses were re-routed away from Wootton. That was on top of spending hours on a bus on the way home on Thursday. Also those people who missed out on appointments, funerals etc.

Heard the latest,"Giddins has sold out" Has he had enough of me slagging him off about the way he runs the festival?

Why is this only Newport? I live in Fishbourne and it effected us more than anyone!

Why is the questionnaire only being sent out to 2 wards when the Newport Parish Council is made up 7 wards. The problems associated with the 2012 Festival affected all of Newport so surely the residents of all 7 wards should be sort. The rest of the island was affected by the Festival gridlock and really the IW Council or Andrew Turner should be conducting an island wide survey. I was told only yesterday by a work colleague on the mainland there are alot that went to the Festival this year from the mainland who will not visit next year because they have memories of being stuck in traffic for hours. We had 2 days of bad press which will have harmed the image of the Island, because dare I say it Mud Sticks

I think the Festival on the IoW strikes such a chord in the memories of the people who go to it, they will reminisce about it for years fondly. Surly that is a boost for the Island, this fondness is for life and the urge to visit the Island will remain in to old age for most. Not many local tourist economy's can have that feather in their caps.

I have never been to it, I just notice the effect on people who have.

why cant all the whole island be involved, are the council that afraid of what the people they serve will say, that the festival is great but its in the wrong place, that some things have been badly organised, i dont think many will want to see it go but there is a definate need for everyone to know whats going on, not just people living close to it

ESOP. just about sums this council up, they must know they are on borrowed time.

Any views or opinions presented in the comments above are solely those of the author and do not represent those of the Isle of Wight County Press.