Yahoo Finance Organisers of Kendal Calling blame Government for festival cancellation
Music festival Kendal Calling has been cancelled, claiming a lack of guidance from the Government was a key reason behind it.
The festival organisers said the lack of a Government-backed insurance scheme and the delay to the publication of results from the Events Research Programme (ERP) had contributed to the "heartbreaking" decision.
In a statement, they said: "Last Monday saw the delay of the so-called ‘Freedom Day’.
"As Kendal Calling sits outside of this delay we would still be in a strong position to proceed.
"But Monday also saw a less publicised delay; the release of the long-awaited research from the Event Research Programme (ERP) pilot events, which would inform the publication of crucial new safety guidance on how we run events.
"Without this safety guidance, there are numerous aspects of the festival we cannot plan, and which could lay us wide open to last-minute unforeseen regulations or requirements we may be required to adhere to, any of which could scupper an already built festival."
Organisers said cancelling its 2020 edition had been "sad but understandable" but that doing the same this year was both "heartbreaking" and "infuriating".
They claimed that a decision had been made to "hold back" the ERP report, which was "insulting to our entire industry".
In the letter, organisers said they were invited last week to apply for the next phase of the Government’s live events pilot scheme, which would have enabled the festival to go ahead, but that on Saturday night they were told another camping festival had been chosen.
"If calls for a government-backed insurance scheme had been heeded we could have potentially continued over the coming weeks," they said.
"We take this opportunity to urge the government to reappraise its approach and to listen to the recommendations of its own reports."
Kendal Calling was due to take place at Lowther Deer Park in the Lake District from July 29 to August 1 with headliners including Stereophonics and Dizzee Rascal.
Many took to social media to share their disappointment at the festival cancellation for a second year in a row.
One tweeted: “As the @KendalCalling team say in this statement, this is heartbreaking and infuriating. It was also avoidable. A good overview of the frustration being felt by the entire festival sector around insurance and the delayed publication of the ERP report.”
Another wrote: “Absolutely devastated for the @KendalCalling team and everyone booked to go. We’re so sad to miss out on another festival this summer.”
A Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport spokesperson said: "We are continuing to work flat-out to support festivals and live events including through our ongoing Events Research Programme.
"Festival organisers have received more than £34 million from our unprecedented Culture Recovery Fund, with more financial support on the way after a £300 million boost at budget.
"We are aware of the wider concerns about securing indemnity cover and are exploring what further support may be required when the sector is able to reopen."
Kendal Calling will now take place from July 28 to July 31 ,2022.
Additional reporting by PA Media
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