Council imposes tough rules for Oxegen safety
The Oxegen stage under construction in rainy conditions
Thursday July 10 2008
OFFICIALS have imposed strict new guidelines on concert promoter MCD in a bid to avoid any safety issues at the Oxegen festival.
This year's licence is being granted by Kildare County Council with 156 guidelines -- 56 more than in 2006.
After yesterday's deluge, up to 30,000 fans are expected to arrive at the site in Punchestown, Co Kildare, today with the campsite gates opening at 12pm. However, the rain is expected to keep a lot of people away until tomorrow.
Strict guidelines have been laid down governing the campsites after accusations last year over a lack of security and unprovoked attacks.
At last year's event, fans claimed that tents were slashed and burnt and that many personal items had been stolen.
They also claimed cars located near secure areas were ransacked and damaged by screwdriver marks, and their windows were broken.
One of the conditions imposed on the promoter is that they employ a minimum of 50 gardai and 10 sergeants at their own expense.
Eight sergeants and 40 gardai will be on duty each night in the campsites, while two sergeants and 10 gardai will police the funfair and event centre each night.
There are about 210 gardai and 2,000 security personnel who will be on duty across the weekend at the concert. They will oversee the 85,000 people who are expected to attend the event. Of these, 70,000 will be camping with 10,000 day concert-goers and 5,000 staff and guests.
MCD has also been ordered to maintain all sanitary conditions "in a clean condition" at the event. Cleaning has to take place prior to peak usage in both the morning and evenings.
Campsites
"All sanitary facilities on the campsites shall be ready for use at the times of greatest demand (mornings and night time)," the licence from Kildare County Council states.
"Non-compliance with this condition shall result in a deduction of part of the surety required under this licence."
The licence agreement -- seen by the Irish Independent -- also warns of financial penalties if MCD is found to be in serious breach of the regulations.
As part of the licence, a cash bond of €85,000 was lodged with Kildare County Council.
- Edel Kennedy
