COVID-19: Glastonbury 2021 Cancelled and Other Somerset Mass Gatherings Postponed and In Doubt

 

Glastonbury (Pilton) Festival

BREAKING (13:25 21/1/21): Sad news to report, following our article published yesterday. Glastonbury Festival 2021 has been CANCELLED, as reported by the BBC.

Leader of Somerset Independents Andrew Pope says:

Andrew Pope

 

"This is very sad news. But it is the right decision for the public health and public safety of Somerset residents and everyone who would have been coming to Pilton and the surrounding area.

I would like to thank Emily Eavis and Michael Eavis, and their team, for making the responsible decision, and placing public health and public safety ahead of financial concerns. I am pleased that they have clarified that the Festival has not, after all, been at risk of bankruptcy.

Hopefully the next Festival will be able to be put on safely with the close co-operation of the organisers and with the protection of Somerset residents at the forefront of plans, working with the local authorities including Mendip District Council, Avon and Somerset Police and Somerset County Council."

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Since the Covid-19 Global Pandemic, mass gatherings have been postponed, cancelled or in doubt. 

We timelined on this website the decision-making of the lockdown and the decision to cancel Glastonbury (Pilton) Festival 2020. 

To protect Somerset residents, Somerset Independents has also challenged a wide range of local authorities and festival organisers to protect Somerset residents from public health risks.

Today, we received news from the Trustees of the Bath and West Showground in Shepton Mallet that they have decided to postpone the substitute event for the Bath and West show that normally takes place every June.

The Showground is currently hosting Covid-19 vaccinations.

In a statement, they said:

"It is clear that life is unlikely to be back to any semblance of normality until well into the summer, making it a challenge to host mass public gatherings safely and securely until later in the year.

While the Royal Bath & West Society is delighted to be part of the COVID19 NHS Vaccination Programme, it is clear that life is unlikely to be back to any semblance of normality until well into the summer, making it a challenge to host mass public gatherings safely and securely until later in the year.

With this in mind, Trustees have agreed to postpone the Bath & West “Country Festival” from early June to 27th– 29th August 2021. Moving the Society’s showcase event will allow the greatest opportunity for the Society to host a safe and holistic event that the whole family can enjoy without the threat of COVID19 hanging over them."

Other mass gatherings in "early summer" of 2021 must also be in doubt, or at risk of cancellation. This includes Glastonbury (Pilton) Festival 2021.

Yet the organisers of Glastonbury Festival have not announced that the 2021 event has been cancelled, or postponed until later in the year.

Both Emily Eavis and Michael Eavis have made public statements, claiming that the Festival could go bankrupt if it did not go ahead and also asking the Conservative Government for help. Eavis Senior, who stood as a Labour Parliamentary Candidate in the 1997 General Election, has also admitted that it would seem unlikely that the Festival would go ahead due to safety concerns. There are also insurance concerns.

Acts that may or may not have been booked to appear at the Festival, have claimed that the Festival will not or should not go ahead. This has included one of the two surviving members of the Beatles, Macca (Paul McCartney), and a member of the Spice Girls.

McCartney described the 2021 event as being a "super spreader" event.

Mel B told the BBC on Radio 5 Live that the event had been cancelled.

This led to denials from the organisers.

So has Glastonbury Festival 2021 been cancelled? Perhaps the organisers know that and have not revealed it to the public? Or they are waiting for other information, such as on insurance and public safety?

Emily Eavis in response to the claims of Macca and Mel B has said via Twitter, that the organisers are waiting for final details, and that the Festival had not been cancelled "yet" (21st December 2020).

There has also been speculation that Pilton Festival will be held in August or September 2021. Again, this has not been confirmed.

Somerset Independents recently challenged Somerset's Covid-19 Engagement Board. At the meeting, our Leader Andrew Pope asked when mass gatherings would be allowed.

The question was directed at the Leader of the Council Councillor David Fothergill, who chairs the meeting. He passed the buck to the officer substituting for the Director of Public Health at the meeting (Louise Woolway). Ms Woolway said that she didn't know.

Andrew Pope says:

"As this Bath and West event in June has been postponed, with organisers saying that it is unlikely they will be allowed by June, then it is reasonable to conclude that all such events before August will also be called off.

It is up to local health authorities and organisers to clarify this as soon as possible, and for organisers to work transparently with them. I applaud the Trustees of Bath and West for making the responsible choice.

We will keep putting pressure on authorities and organisers to protect the health of Somerset residents, and not put financial concerns ahead of public safety."

 

Standing Up For Somerset